You can still enrol for classes starting in July
This subject is accepting enrolments until 7 Aug
Understanding International Politics
UndergraduateMUR-POL1612025
Chip away at the issues and relationships that define contemporary global affairs. Examine the global role of capitalism and democracy. Apply idealistic, constructivist, Marxist and feminist thinking to your research about international relations.
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 28 July 2025,
- 24 Nov 2025
- Price from
- $2,125
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Understanding International Politics
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will:
- Define key concepts in international relations, like globalisation, state sovereignty, war, and multilateralism
- Identify the assumptions and areas of interest of international relations theories
- Apply international relations concepts to contemporary global issues and analyse their dynamics, showing a critical understanding of international political issues
- Examine international relations questions and present arguments on them
- Communicate clearly and effectively in writing.
- Introduction – Nature of International Relations
- Realism, war and power politics
- Liberalism, peace and cooperation
- Constructivism, identity and interests
- Feminism, gender and global change
- Understanding globalisation
- Marxism, critical theory and the global economy
- Modernisation and development
- Environmentalism and climate change
- Popular dissent and anarchism?
- Eclecticism: Can we operate above paradigms?
- How International Relations theories make sense of the world
This subject was previously known as Asia-Pacific in the Global System.
This subject introduces you to the foundations of the discipline of international studies, sometimes called international relations. International studies is about politics on the global scale. We ask questions about power, inequality, and ideas, and how they are changing in the contemporary global political landscape. We explore topics like international theory, intergovernmental organisations, war and conflict, international trade, social movements, gender, climate change, and more. This unit seeks to provide you with the conceptual tools and skills to understand where international politics has been and where it is going.
Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.
- Reserach essay (35%)
- Engagement/participation (10%)
- Final invigilated exam (40%)
- Journal: Written reflection (15%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
Explore Murdoch courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 31
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
MUR-PTR161 (Not currently available)
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMUR-BGS-DEG
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