Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Lloyd Cox
Contact via 98504096
W6A 423
Tuesday 2-4
Lorna Barrow
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
In this unit, we introduce Australian politics through the lens of debates about globalisation and in so doing, we examine key Australian political institutions, ideologies and contemporary issues. We explore the ways in which they have been effected by, and have also filtered the effects of, accelerated globalisation. We ask: What is globalisation and how, if at all, has it blurred the boundaries between domestic and foreign policy issues? What is the nature of Australia's key political institutions (the Constitution, the High Court, Federalism, and Parliament), and are they democratic? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the main political ideologies? What are the key contemporary issues in Australia's political life (reconciliation, immigration, the war on terror, political information management), and is globalisation a sufficient or even a necessary explanation for understanding them?
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Minor Essay | 20% | Yes | 29/03/2017 |
Major Essay | 40% | Yes | 10/05/2017 |
Take Home Examination | 40% | Yes | 9-11 June |
Due: 29/03/2017
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
In this first essay, students will have an opportunity to explore one of the key Australian political institutions that we deal with in the early weeks of the unit. Students should submit their essay electronically to lloyd.cox@mq.edu.au by midnight on Wednesday 29 March.
Due: 10/05/2017
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
The main essay will be 1500 words +/-10%, with essay topics to be distributed in week two of the unit. Students should submit their essay electronically to lloyd.cox@mq.edu.au by midnight on Wednesday 10 May
Due: 9-11 June
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
The final, take home exam for external students will be put up on ilearn by 11.00am on Friday, 9 June. It will be composed of four short essay-type tasks of around 600 words each, drawn from material across the entire unit. These works should be referenced in the usual way. Students should submit their finished work direct to my email - lloyd.cox@mq.edu.au, by midnight on Sunday 11 June. The exam should be sent as one file, not four. This file should be labelled with your name and POL 101 Final exam.
Australian Politics in Global Context
Welcome to POL 101, Australian Politics in Global Context. Australian politics has undergone rapid change over the past three decades. The relative stability of the post-war era has given way to a political and social landscape of accelerated transformation. Previously taken-for-granted values are challenged, once stable institutions are destabilised, and the very idea of an Australian political community (what it is, who it encompasses, and the future directions it should take) is the subject of fierce controversy. These political tremors have been expressed most acutely in the rise of and subsequent challenges to multiculturalism, and in the neo-liberal restructuring of key Australian institutions, with an attendant growth of inequality.
In this course, we introduce Australian politics through the lens of debates about globalization and its consequences for state capacities, sovereignty and decision-making. In so doing, we examine key political institutions, ideologies and contemporary issues. We explore the ways in which they been affected by, and have also filtered the effects of, accelerated globalization. Among other questions, we ask: what is globalization and how, if at all, has it blurred the boundaries between ‘domestic’ and ‘foreign’ policy issues; what is the nature of Australia’s key political institutions, and do they ensure a high degree of democratic participation and accountability in a global era; what are the strengths and weaknesses of the main political ideas that inform public debate in this country, and how are they expressed in political struggle between the main parties?
In trying to answer these questions, we will follow readings from the prescribed text book quite closely. Hence it is essential for all students to purchase a copy from the university bookshop:
Narelle Miragliotta, Wayne Errington and Nicholas Barry (2013)The Australian Political System in Action (2nd edn.) South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
To do well in this unit it is imperative that students listen to all lectures and engage with reading material including the political press. Beyond the prescribed text, I will also be recommending additional supplementary readings as we go. Students will also find the following resources useful:
Useful General Texts and Background Reading on Australian Politics
Aulich, C. & Wettenhall, R. (eds.) (2005) Howard’s Second and Third Term Governments. Sydney: UNSW Press.
Frankel, B. (2004) Zombies, Lilliputians and Sadists: The Power of the Living Dead and the Future of Australia. Fremantle: Curtin University Press.
Hirst, J. (2002) Australia’s Democracy: A Short History. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Irving, H. (2004) Five Things to Know About the Constitution. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 92-107.
Maddox, G. (2005) Australian Democracy in Theory and Practice, 5th edn. Melbourne: Longman.
Parkin, A., Summers, J. & Woodward, D. (eds.) (2006) Government, Politics, Power and Policy in Australia 8th edn. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia.
Singleton, G. (ed.) (2000) The Howard Government: Australian Commonwealth Administration 1996-1998. Sydney: UNSW Press.
Singleton, G., Aitkin, D., Jinks, B. & Warhurst, J. (2006) Australian Political Institutions, 8th edn. Melbourne: Longman.
Smith, R. (2001) Australian Political Culture. Melbourne Longman.
Vromen, A. & Gelber, K. (2005) Powerscape: Contemporary Australian Political Practice. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
Young, S. (2004) The Persuaders: Inside the Hidden Machine of Political Advertising. Melbourne: Pluto Press Australia.
USEFUL JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES
Arena
Australian Journal of Political Science
Australian Journal of Politics and History
Australian Journal of Political Economy
Australian Journal of Public Administration
Australian Journal of Social Issues
[Australian]Journal of Sociology
AQ: Journal of Contemporary Analysis
Griffith Review
Journal of Political Ideologies
The Monthly: Australian Politics, Society and Culture
Thesis Eleven
USEFUL WEBSITES
Macquarie University’s Politics subject site:
http://www.lib.mq.edu/resources/subject/politics
The Commonwealth parliamentary Library:
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/index.htm
The National Library of Australia:
http://www.nla.gov.au/oz/gov /
Elections data base website at the University of Western Australia:
NSW government website:
http://www.nsw.gov.au/government.asp
Australian Bureau of Statistics:
ABC Online:
Australian Policy Online:
http://www.apo.org.au/index.shtml
Australian Review of Public Affairs:
Online Opinion
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au
New Matilda Magazine
www.newmatilda.com/home/default/.asp
The Whitlam Institute
The Australia Institute
The Centre for Independent Studies
The Green Left Weekly
Lecture and Tutorial Outline
Week |
Lecture Dates |
Lecture Topics |
Tutorial Topics |
1 |
Feb 27 March 1 |
Introduction: Australian Politics and Globalization Democracy and Inequality in Australia |
Introduction |
2 |
March 6 March 8 |
The Australian Constitution The Constitution and the "Dismissal" |
Was the Dismissal Constitutional? |
3 |
March 13 March 15 |
Australian Federalism Reforming Federalism: How and Why? |
Federalism versus Centralism? |
4 |
March 20 March 22 |
The Legislature Whose Laws? Social Class and Political Lobbying |
Can laws and decisions be bought? |
5 |
March 27 March 29 |
The Executive, Secrecy and Refugees In Class Test for internal students (hence no lecture), while first essay due for external students |
The Executive and Australia's refugee policy |
6 |
April 3 April 5 |
The Public Service The Public Service and Economic Rationalism |
Who does the Public Service serve? |
7 |
April 10 April 12 |
The High Court The High Court and Aboriginal Land Rights |
Mabo, Wik and the High Court |
8 |
May 1 May 3 |
The Electoral System No Place for Amateurs: The Professionalization of Australian Politics |
Professionalization and "dumbing down" in Australian Politics
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9 |
May 8 May 10 |
Reading/Writing Week, no lecture Reading/Writing Week, no lecture |
No tutorials, but I will be available for consultation on essays, due on 10 May
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10 |
May 15 May 17 |
The Australian Labor Party (History) The Australian Labor Party (Today) |
Is the ALP still a labour/workers party?
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11 |
May 22 May 24 |
The Liberal Party (History) The Liberal Party (Today) |
Is the modern Liberal Party a "liberal" party? |
12 |
May 29 May 31 |
The Greens and the Environment Radical Political Movements |
Can the environment flourish in a capitalist world? |
13 |
June 5 June 7 |
Australia, US, Asia: Along the Domestic/Foreign Divide Conclusion and preparation for exam (must attend) |
Globalization and Australian Politics |
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Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.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
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Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
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