James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2022

PL5153 - Politics and Foreign Relations

Subject Description

This subject introduces students to two key areas of world politics: political/security relations and international political economy. More particularly, it focuses on why and how countries enter conflict or develop cooperation with one another. Within the broader scope of the main foci in international relations, students will also learn about foreign policy making and diplomacy, military force build-up and humanitarian intervention, peace building and preventive diplomacy, international aspects of human rights, international development, environmental degradation, and international migration and refugees. Historical as well as recent cases of conflict and cooperation will be discussed. These will include military, political, and economic conflict and cooperation among various countries, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Key and foundational concepts and theories in international relations will be introduced, such as realism, liberalism, the national interest, and globalisation and global governance. Within the context of global governance, students will learn about important roles played international organisations (eg the UN), regional organisations (eg ASEAN), and international non-government organisations (eg Amnesty International) to arrest conflict and promote international cooperation.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate and reflect critically on advanced and integrated knowledge of theories, key concepts, or practice and professional ethics in international relations and foreign policy
• Analyse critically and evaluate international/global political/economic/social systems, institutions, structures and/or practices in world politics
• Generate, analyse, synthesise and evaluate complex perspectives, arguments and sources of qualitative and/or quantitative data pertinent to complex political, historical, economic, environmental and/or cultural issues at the international level, particularly those related to quality of life in the tropics worldwide
• Interpret and justify to a specialist and non-specialist audience theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions through advanced literacy and, where appropriate, numeracy skills
• Adapt and apply knowledge and skills to identify complex problems in world politics and pose creative solutions to social, political and/or environmental challenges facing peoples and societies in diverse tropical contexts worldwide

Subject Assessment

• Written > Examination - In class - (40%) - Individual
• Written > Proposal - (20%) - Individual
• Written > Essay (including multi-draft) 2 - (40%) - Individual

Note that 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.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  PL2153 PL3153

Availabilities