Students
POIR905 – Foundations in Politics, International Relations and Public Policy
2016 – S2 External
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Lloyd Cox
Contact via 98504096
W6A, Room 423
Monday 10-12
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| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertIntRel or GradCertPPP
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit explores some key concepts in Politics and International Relations. It enables a broad understanding of these contested concepts, which have decisively influenced political and human development through history to the present.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Board Participation | 30% | All semester |
| Review of Article | 20% | Week 3, Fri 19/8/16 |
| Major Essay | 50% | Week 10 Fri 21/10/16 |
Discussion Board Participation
Due: All semester
Weighting: 30%
Students are required to make a 200-300 word contribution to the ilearn discussion board for at least 10 of the 13 weeks of semester. These contributions should be made during the week that we are dealing with the topic. The contributions should seek to answer one of the questions that I pose for that week, based on the reading provided. I will be reading these contributions, and providing feedback on the ilearn site, between 9-12 on Friday mornings Australian time. As I will be online at that time, students are welcome to discuss issues with me and ask questions. Naturally, students should also use the ilearn discussion board to communicate with one another. I will grade your contributions at the conclusion of the unit, as I want to consider them as a whole. But students will be getting written feed back each week.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Review of Article
Due: Week 3, Fri 19/8/16
Weighting: 20%
Students are required to write a short 1,000 word review on one of the readings posted in ilearn in the first three weeks of the unit. The review should provide a summary of the main argument in the reviewed article/chapter, outline its strengths and weaknesses, and offer an opinion on the article (i.e., do you agree; is their any obvious absences in the article/chapter?). Your review should be sent to me electronically, with the file labelled with your family name, at lloyd.cox@mq.edu.au. Make sure that you also have your name on the essay, as I will be printing them out to grade them. Files should arrive in my inbox by midnight, Australian Eastern Standard time, on Friday, 19/8/2016
On successful completion you will be able to:
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
Major Essay
Due: Week 10 Fri 21/10/16
Weighting: 50%
Students are required to write a 2,500 word essay on a topic of their choice, which deploys some of the concepts and knowledge that we have developed throughout the unit. I will post some possible topics in the second week of the unit, but students may also develop their own topic. For students doing the latter, they should clear it with me first, over the email. All essays much include all cited references and a bibliography (not included in word count). I will be using a grading rubric for marking, which will be put up on ilearn well in advance of the due date. As with the previous review, essays should be submitted to me electronically at lloyd.cox@mq.edu.au. Label the file with your family name, but also be sure to write your name on the actual essay. Any problems, contact me.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Delivery and Resources
Welcome to POIR 905, Foundations in Politics, International Relations and Public Policy. As its title implies, this unit aims to provide students with a conceptual foundation for the study of politics and its sub-disciplines. We will explore the big ideas that have shaped our understanding of politics from the ancient Greeks to the Twenty First Century. Among other topics, we examine the nature of power and authority, the distinctions between state and nation and nation-state, and the vexed issues of authority, legitimacy and ideology.The latter part of the course shifts to issues of public policy, before moving to international relations and global politics in the concluding weeks. As the unit is only being taught in the external mode, there will be no oral lectures. Instead, the material is organized around key readings, extensive use of the ilearn discussion board, and continuous feedback and communication with me, the unit's convenor.
Week One: What is Politics?
Questions
Are human beings inherently political animals, and what does this mean? When political scientists say that they study politics, what is it, exactly, to which they are referring? Can the study of politics be clearly separated from the study of economics and society? What is the distinction that Weber makes between politics as a vocation and science as a vocation?
Readings
Andrew Heywood, 'What is Politics' in Andrew Heywood, Politics (2013), pp. 1-26
Max Weber, 'Politics as a Vocation' in H. H. Gerth and C. W. Mills (eds) From Max Weber (1948), pp. 77-128
Week Two: Political Structure and Political Agency
Questions
What is meant by structure and agency? Do conscious, acting individuals determine political outcomes, or is it the larger, structural forces that determine political outcomes and change, or is this a false dichotomy? What is the relationship between free will and determinism and agency and structure?
Readings
Stuart McAnulla, Structure and Agency, in D. Marsh and G. Stoker (eds) Theory and Methods in Political Science (2002), pp. 271-291
C. Wright Mills, The Sociological Imagination (1959), pp. 3-24
Week Three: Power, Authority and Domination
Questions
What is power and what are some of its different dimensions? What is the distinction between authority and domination? What is the distinction between coercion and consent? What are some real world examples that illustrate these distinctions?
Readings
Max Weber, Economy and Society Volume 1 (1978), pp. 53-56 & 212-245
Clarissa Haywood and Steven Lukes, 'Nobody to Shoot? Power, Structure and Agency: A Dialogue' Journal of Power (2008), pp. 5-20
Week Four: Interests, Values, Freedom and Justice
Questions
What is the difference between interests and values, and what is more important in determining political preferences? What is meant by positive freedom and what is meant by negative freedom? What is meant by justice, and how can we recognize injustice when we see it?
Readings
Vernon Van Dyke, 'Values and Interests' American Political Science Review Vol. 56 No 3 (1962), pp. 567-576
Eugene Kamenka, 'What is Justice?' in Brian Barry et al (eds) Justice (1979), pp. 1-24
Week Five: Political Ideology and Political Emotions
Questions
What is meant by ideology? What is the difference, if any, between political ideology and political doctrine? In what ways do emotions influence politics, and what are some of the principal emotions that are important in political life? What is a contemporary political issues that is strongly influenced by collective emotions?
Readings
Jorge Larrain, The Concept of Ideology (1979), pp. 172-211
Andrew A. G. Ross, Mixed Emotions: Beyond Fear and Hatred in International Conflict (2014), pp. 1-13
Week Six: State and Government
Questions
What is the difference between a state and a government? What is meant by state sovereignty? When is a state or government legitimate and when is it not? Are states instruments for the oppression of one social class by another? What is the difference between executive and legislative power in a state?
Readings
David Held, 'Introduction: Central Perspectives on the Modern State' in D. Held (ed) States and Society (1983). pp. 1-53.
Clause Offe, 'The Theory of the State in Search of its Subject matter: Observations on Current Debates' in C. Offe, Modernity and the State (1996), pp. 61-71.
Week Seven: Democracy as Ideal and Reality
Questions
What is meant by democracy? What is the difference between direct and representative democracy? In what ways does money effect the content of modern democracy? What does Michael Mann mean when he speaks of Democracy's "dark side"?
Reading
David Held, 'Stories of Democracy: Old and New' in D. Held, Democracy and the Global Order (1995). pp. 1-27.
Michael Mann, The Dark Side of Democracy: Explaining ethnic Cleansing (2005), pp. 1-33.
Week Eight: Nationalism and Borders
Questions
What is the difference between civic and ethnic nationalism, and is this a useful distinction? What are the key claims made by nationalists? Ought we give more consideration to our co-nationals than to others? In what ways do borders relate to nationalist sentiment, and what are some example?
Reading
Anthony D. Smith, Nationalism (2001), pp. 5-20
Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities (2nd edn) (1991), pp. 1-36
Week Nine: What is Public Policy?
Questions
What is meant by public policy? What are some of the key areas of public policy? Who are the main actors in public policy formation, and in what ways are they constrained? Is public policy formation democratic?
Readings
Sarah Maddison and Richard Denniss, An Introduction to Australian Public Policy (2009), pp. 1-18
Carol Bacchi, Analysing Policy: What's the Problem Represented to be? (2009), pp. 25-53
Week Ten: Policy and Welfare
Questions
What is meant by welfare, and what is meant by the welfare state? What are some of the key influences in the shaping of welfare policy? In what ways has welfare policy changed in the wealthy, developed countries over the past 30 years? What is meant by the "marketization" of welfare, and why has this occurred?
Readings
Jane Robbins, 'Welfare Policy' in Dennis Woodward et al, Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia (2010), pp. 451-477.
Ronald Mendelsohn, Fair go: Welfare Issues in Australia (1982), pp. 1-17
Week Eleven: International Relations
Questions
What are the main claims of International Relations "Realists"? Is International Relations principally about relations between states? In international relations, what is meant by security? Is the United Nations more than the sum of its individual, national parts?
Readings
Karen A. Mingst, 'Contending Perspectives: How to Think About International Relations Theoretically' in K. Mingst, Essentials of International Relations (2004), pp. 55-82.
Stephanie Lawson, 'Security and Insecurity in the contemporary World' in S. Lawson, International Relations (2003), pp.78-96.
Week Twelve: Globalization and Empire
Questions
What is meant by globalization? How has globalization weakened national states, and how, if at all, has it strengthened them? Has a more economically integrated world increased or lessened intra- and inter-state conflict? What is the difference between globalization and imperialism? Is the United States an Empire?
Readings
Justin Rosenberg, The Follies of Globalisation Theory (2000), pp. 1-16.
Andrew J. Bacevich, American Empire (2002), pp. 7-31.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Assessment tasks
- Discussion Board Participation
- Review of Article
- Major Essay
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Assessment tasks
- Discussion Board Participation
- Review of Article
- Major Essay
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Assessment tasks
- Discussion Board Participation
- Review of Article
- Major Essay
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Assessment tasks
- Discussion Board Participation
- Review of Article
- Major Essay
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- A sound foundation in and knowledge of key political concepts
- A capacity to critically engage with and deploy political concepts in order to better understand past, present and future political issues
- An ability to articulate complex political ideas in a clear written form
- A capacity to apply knowledge learned in the unit to current political affairs with which students have a special interest
Assessment task
- Major Essay