PL5250 - Australia and World Politics

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	Discipline of Politics

This subject examines Australias global position and role. It explores the evolution of Australian foreign, defence and trade policies and investigates the assumptions about Australia and the world which underpin those policies. The subject is structured in four modules (with accompanying readings) dealing with: theoretical concepts; historical perspectives; process, partisanship and political economy; strategic and defence perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

• critically evaluate government and academic literature on Australias international relations and foreign policy;
• develop appropriate research and writing skills;
• familiarise students with changing conceptions of Australias national interests and the strategies employed in advancing them;
• foster an appreciation of the complexity of Australias international relations.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner;
• A commitment to lifelong learning and intellectual development.

Prerequisites:	Admission to graduate or postgraduate program
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	PL2250 and PL3250

Availabilities
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 30-Mar-2007
Coord/Lect:	Assoc. Professor Douglas Hunt.
Method of Delivery:	Printed materials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); essay and/or assignment work (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.