Students

POIX1080 – Introduction to Global Politics

2025 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Umut Ozguc
umut.ozguc@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Globalisation has had dramatic implications for the structure and conduct of global politics, now defined by the multiplication of actors and networks. Contemporary crises can no longer be contained within state borders and global problems such as climate change, poverty, health insecurities, and violent conflicts call for global solutions. This unit equips students with the tools to understand the forces that shape the world we live in by introducing them to the key issues, institutions, ideas, and actors involved in global politics. It first outlines the historical context, key theories and concepts, and fundamental institutions of contemporary global politics. Students will then explore important contemporary global issues and crises. Overall, the unit provides students with foundational knowledge about the complexity of global politics, problems and solutions. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

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: Understand and evaluate the role of historical events and the meanings that have been attributed to them in world politics.
  • ULO2: Apply and develop further independent research skills required to discover relevant evidence to support academic arguments.
  • ULO3: Understand and apply the academic skills required to write cogently and to structure arguments in a logical order.
  • ULO4: Critically engage with and analyse the key issues and challenges that are the current focus of world politics.
  • ULO5: Understand, explain and apply the key concepts, theories, methods, and issues relevant to the study of International Relations at an introductory level.
  • ULO6: Identify and understand the defining debates in the field of Global Politics.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quiz 10% No 28 August 10 am (opens) - 29 August 11:55 (closes)
Research Essay 40% No 18/09/2025
Policy Brief 50% No 06/11/2025

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 28 August 10 am (opens) - 29 August 11:55 (closes)
Weighting: 10%

 

Quiz  (Multiple Choice)

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and evaluate the role of historical events and the meanings that have been attributed to them in world politics.
  • Critically engage with and analyse the key issues and challenges that are the current focus of world politics.
  • Understand, explain and apply the key concepts, theories, methods, and issues relevant to the study of International Relations at an introductory level.
  • Identify and understand the defining debates in the field of Global Politics.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: 18/09/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

Short essay. 1400 words.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and evaluate the role of historical events and the meanings that have been attributed to them in world politics.
  • Apply and develop further independent research skills required to discover relevant evidence to support academic arguments.
  • Understand and apply the academic skills required to write cogently and to structure arguments in a logical order.
  • Critically engage with and analyse the key issues and challenges that are the current focus of world politics.
  • Understand, explain and apply the key concepts, theories, methods, and issues relevant to the study of International Relations at an introductory level.
  • Identify and understand the defining debates in the field of Global Politics.

Policy Brief

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 55 hours
Due: 06/11/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

Policy Brief.1800 words.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and evaluate the role of historical events and the meanings that have been attributed to them in world politics.
  • Apply and develop further independent research skills required to discover relevant evidence to support academic arguments.
  • Understand and apply the academic skills required to write cogently and to structure arguments in a logical order.
  • Critically engage with and analyse the key issues and challenges that are the current focus of world politics.
  • Identify and understand the defining debates in the field of Global Politics.

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

All resources are provided on Ilearn and Leganto. 

Unit Schedule

Part 1: Introductions

Week 1    How (and why) do we study global politics? (tutorials start this week) 

Week 2    Globalisation or Global Apartheid? A snapshot of the 21st century

Part 2: History of the Present

Week 3   The birth of (nation) state: Is state a good invention?

Week 4   International history of the 20th Century: A century of wars or cooperation?

Part 3: Theoretical Questions

Week 5   Traditional theories of global politics: Realism and Liberalism

Week 6   Sociology of global politics: Constructivist approaches

 

Part 4: Changing nature of conflicts

Week 7   From R2P to New Humanitarianism: How to save lives in new wars?

Week 8  New Wars and Questions on Agency: How do women and  children experience violent conflicts?

Week 9  ‘Killer Robots’ and Private Military Contractors: Do we need a new definition of war?

Part 5: Changing scales of global politics

Week 10    Broadening and Deepening Security in the 21st Century: Why do we need a new definition of security?

Week 11    International Political Economy and Its Crisis: Has the current system failed us? 

Week 12   The changing nature of borders and refugee ‘crisis’: Why do states close their borders?

Week 13   From Sinking States to More-than-human World: How can we rethink global responsibility for a dying planet?          (no tutorials this week)

 

 

 

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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:

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.

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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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

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Unit information based on version 2025.06 of the Handbook