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POIR1010 – Australian Politics in Global Context

2020 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

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Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer/Convenor
Lloyd Cox
Contact via 9850 4096
Level two, Hearing Hub Building
Tuesday 10-12
Vincenzo Scappatura
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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?

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:

  • ULO1: Articulate a sound understanding of the foundations of the Australian political system and its relationship to its global context
  • ULO2: Communicate in verbal and written form the key features of Australia's main political institutions and the debates and controversies that surround them
  • ULO3: Demonstrate familiarity with the main political ideologies and parties that are influential in the Australia political scene
  • ULO4: Use a sophisticated analytical vocabulary for better appreciating the most pressing contemporary issues in Australian politics

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Late Submission Penalty “Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.”

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

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 provide a number of weekly readings that will be available on ilearn. To get the best out of this unit it is essential that students read, think carefully about what they are reading, and participate in the online discussions.

The main readings will be from the textbook by Kefford, G. et. al., (2018) Australian Politics in the Twenty-First Century: Old Institutions, New Challenges (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). As the Co-op bookshop has gone into receivership, the book can be purchased directly from Cambridge Online, where students will receive a 20% discount, or from a myriad of other online sites. Students should order the book immediately so that they can start reading as soon as possible. 

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:

http://elections.uwa.edu.au

NSW government website:

http://www.nsw.gov.au/government.asp

Australian Bureau of Statistics:

http://www.abs.goc.au/

ABC Online:

http://www.abc.net.au

Australian Policy Online:

http://www.apo.org.au/index.shtml

Australian Review of Public Affairs:

http://australianreview.net

Online Opinion

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au

New Matilda Magazine

www.newmatilda.com/home/default/.asp

The Whitlam Institute

http://www.whitlam.org/about

The Australia Institute

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week

Lecture Dates

Lecture Topics

Tutorial Topics

1

Feb 24 A

Feb 27 B

Introduction: Australian Politics and Globalization

Democracy, Inequality and Indigenous Australians

Introduction plus "closing the gap" (between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians)

2

March 2, A

March 5, B

Australian Federalism

Reforming Federalism: How and Why?

What is federalism, and is it a better than more politically centralized systems?

3

March 9, A

March 12. B

The Legislature

Whose Laws? Social Class and Political Lobbying

The Legislature (House of Representatives and the Senate) makes laws in the name of all Australians, but are those laws in the interests of all Australians? Can laws be bought?

 

4

March 16, A

March 19, B

The modern Executive

 

The modern Executive, Secrecy and Refugees

What is the purpose of Cabinet confidentiality? Is secrecy inherent to our system of government, and how does it clash with the principle of accountability?

5

March 23, A

March 26, B

The Australian Constitution and High Court

The Dismissal

Was the dismissal of the Whitlam government constitutional?

6

March 30 A

April 2, B

The Bureaucracy and Public Service

The Policy Process

To what extent to public service bureaucrats shape public policy in Australia? 

7

April 6, A

April 9, B

 

The Australian Electoral System

The 2019 Election: A Case Study

 

What were the key reasons for the Coalitions election victory in 2019?

8

April 27, A

April 30, B

The Australian Labor Party

The Liberal Party of Australia

Have the ALP and the LPA converged politically in recent decades? If they have, what are the areas of convergence?

 

 

9

May 4, A

May, 7, B

Minor Parties and the Party System

The Greens and One Nation

Why have minor parties gained a greater share of the total vote over recent election cycles?

10

May 11, A

May 14, B

Political Leadership

Gender and Leadership

Has the quality of political leadership in Australia deteriorated in recent years, as some claim? Why do women continue to be disproportionately underrepresented in positions of political leadership?

11

May 18, A

May 21, B

The Media and Democracy

Social Media and Politics

How does the media affect political outcomes? Is the media, or at least some sections of it, politically neutral?

12

May 25 May 28

Citizen Participation and Engagement

Environmental Catastrophe in the Age of Denial

The planet is undergoing catastrophic, human-induced climate change, yet some of our politicians deny this? Why?

13

June 1

June 4

Revolution versus reform

Conclusion, and final exam preparation

Do we need a political revolution in Australia?

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
16/02/2020 Changed dates for assessments, modified the unit outline to reflect some changes I will be making to the content, and gave details of the new readings/textbook.