Students
POIR2010 – Contemporary Issues in Australian Politics: Race, Nation, Class and Gender
2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor and Lecturer
Lloyd Cox
Contact via 9850 4096
ARTS Building B, Office 247
Wednesday 9-11
Vincenzo Scappatura
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or POL or POIR or MHIX or POIX units)
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Australia confronts a number of persistent questions: does it live up to its reputation as an egalitarian country whose unofficial motto is a 'fair go for all!'? How have class relations been influenced by the mining boom and its aftermath? Are Australian women and men making progress toward greater equality? What are the prospects for ‘closing the gap’ between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and more recent arrivals? Taking as its central themes, race, nation, class, and gender, the course is structured into sections addressing race and nation; class politics; gender and sexuality. |
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: Demonstrate the ability to peer below the surface feature of Australian politics and its discourses to identify the underlying inequalities at play
- ULO3: Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
- ULO4: Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality/
- ULO5: Demonstrate capacity to assess the extent that the media and new technologies impact – if at all – on the reproduction of existing social relations
- ULO6: Demonstrate critical understanding of the interplay between discourse, ideology, structures and agency in shaping the makeup of Australian society in terms of race, nation, class and gender
General Assessment Information
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 20% | No | 23.59 on 11/08/2021; 1/09/2021; 6/10/2021; 27/10/2021 |
| Essay | 45% | No | 23.59, 29/09/2021 |
| Take-home exam | 25% | No | 23.59, 10/11/2021 |
| Participation | 10% | No | Ongoing |
Quizzes
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23.59 on 11/08/2021; 1/09/2021; 6/10/2021; 27/10/2021
Weighting: 20%
Quizzes based on reading and lecture content.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to peer below the surface feature of Australian politics and its discourses to identify the underlying inequalities at play
- Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23.59, 29/09/2021
Weighting: 45%
2500 word research essay - details provided on ilearn
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to peer below the surface feature of Australian politics and its discourses to identify the underlying inequalities at play
- Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
- Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality/
- Demonstrate capacity to assess the extent that the media and new technologies impact – if at all – on the reproduction of existing social relations
- Demonstrate critical understanding of the interplay between discourse, ideology, structures and agency in shaping the makeup of Australian society in terms of race, nation, class and gender
Take-home exam
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 23.59, 10/11/2021
Weighting: 25%
Take-home exam - details and timing described on ilearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand and identify linkages between class, race, gender and Australian nationhood
- Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality/
- Demonstrate critical understanding of the interplay between discourse, ideology, structures and agency in shaping the makeup of Australian society in terms of race, nation, class and gender
Participation
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
Participation in class discussion (either online or tutorials)
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to peer below the surface feature of Australian politics and its discourses to identify the underlying inequalities at play
- Critically analyse Australian politics and assess the ways in which it reinforces, reduces or normalises inequality/
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Welcome to Australian Politics: Race, Nation, Class and Gender. Australia has often been imagined as a nation where egalitarianism and a "fair-go" have shielded the general population from the inequalities and injustices faced in many other countries. This is a myth that is still pedaled in our politics and public discourse, but one that does not stand up to even the mildest of scrutiny. This unit will interrogate this myth through the lens of race and nation, and class and gender. We will explore the ways in which these categories have been constructed historically and how they manifest themselves in contemporary Australian politics.
There is no set text for the unit. Instead, key weekly readings will be posted on ilearn, as well as any supplementary readings. In addition, the week's recorded lectures and power point slides can be found on ilearn, as will a variety of other resources. To do well in the unit it is essential that students engage with the lectures and the readings, as well as with each other on the discussion board. Here students should aim to make a contribution each week, of up to 300 words. This includes responses to questions listed by the unit convenor and discussion with fellow external students. Students are expected to contribute and participate each week on the discussion board as they would in an on-campus tutorial.
Unit Schedule
| Week | Date, Week beginning | Lecture | Tutorial | Assessment |
| 1 | Jule 26 | Introduction: Politics and Social Division in the Age of Covid-19 | The political relevance of race, nation, class and gender in an era of global pandemic (but no need to contribute to the discussion board for this first week) | None |
| 2 | August 2 | 'Race' and the politics of reconciliation | 'Race' and Reconciliation | None |
| 3 | August 9 | The History Wars: Australian Multiculturalism in Question | History Wars, Multiculturalism | Quiz 11/8/2021 |
| 4 | August 16 | Immigration, Border Protection and Securitization | Immigration, Borders and Exclusion | None |
| 5 | August 23 | Australian Nationalism: Whose National Identity? | The Politics of Nationalism | None |
| 6 | August 30 | Citizenship and the Politics of Fear + Religion in Australian Politics | Fear, Religion and Citizenship | Quiz 1/09/2021 |
| 7 | September 6 | Class, Affluenza and the Environment | Capitalism, Consumption, and Environmental Politics | None |
| 8 | September 27 | The Changing Face of Work and Industrial Relations | The Politics of Workplace Change and Industrial Relations | Essay, 29/09/2021 |
| 9 | October 4 | Mutual Obligation and the Welfare State + the Marketisation of Education | Welfare and Education | Quiz 6/10/2021 |
| 10 | October 11 | Feminism, Gender and Power | Gender inequality and women in politics | None |
| 11 | October 18 | Exam Preparation | I will give a shorter than usual talk on how to best prepare for the online exam that will be at the end of week 13. | None |
| 12 | October 25 | Babies, the Family and Same-Sex Relationships in Australia | Babies, the Family and Same-Sex Relationships in Australia | Quiz 27/10/2021 |
| 13 | November 1 | Concluding Remarks | No tutorial | Online Exam 10.11/2021 |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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
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Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook