DEMOCRACIES AND DICTATORSHIPS: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS

POL1AUP

2018

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

The discipline of politics concerns itself with key concepts of power, justice and order. It addresses questions of how societies are organised politically; how power and resources are distributed; and the impact these choices have on the rights and livelihoods of people. This subject introduces students to the key concepts and analytical tools of the discipline of politics. It examines the major institutions, ideas and structures that are central to understanding politics. This subject also introduces students to comparative approaches to politics by examining Australia's political system and those found in other states. In doing so, this subject will enable students to understand politics in a global context, including the diversity of values and perspectives that underpin modern political systems. This subject addresses Latrobe's Global Citizenship essential.

School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Bec Strating

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 1 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: Core subject at first-year level for a Politics major in the Bachelor of Arts degree (ABA).

Learning resources

Readings

Resource Type	Title	Resource Requirement	Author and Year	Publisher
Readings	Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction	Prescribed	Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and John McCormick	10TH ED., MACMILLAN 2016.

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. To understand the key disciplinary ideas and conceptual tools for studying and understanding politics in both Australia and globally.

Activities:: Annotated bibliography and essay plan, Major essay; on-going LMS exercises; tutorials and lectures
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

02. To identify the core political institutions of democratic and non-democratic governments across the globe.

Activities:: Annotated bibliography and essay plan; Major essay; tutorials and lectures
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

03. To be able to compare the core political institutions, ideas and activities across diverse states globally.

Activities:: Annotated bibliography and essay plan; Major essay, ongoing LMS activities, tutorials and lectures
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

04. To build the critical academic skills necessary to develop an argument based on scholarly research.

Activities:: Annotated bibliography and essay plan; Major Essay
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

Melbourne, 2018, Semester 1, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information:

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Bec Strating

Class requirements

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	%	ILO*
Major essay - 1600	Major essay to be submitted through turnitin	30	02, 03, 04
On-going LMS/tutorial activities (equivalent to 1200 words)	Online assessments linked with in class activities	30	01, 02, 03
Annotated bibliography and essay plan (equivalent 1200 words)	Critical evaluations of readings to be used for major essay, essay introduction, plan and bibliography	40	01, 02, 03, 04