pol1aup democracies and dictatorships
DEMOCRACIES AND DICTATORSHIPS: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS
POL1AUP
2019
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.
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorDirk Tomsa
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 1 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/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. Understand the key disciplinary ideas and conceptual tools for studying and understanding politics in both Australia and globally.
- Activities:
- Major essay and take-home exam; online 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. Identify the core political institutions of democratic and non-democratic governments across the globe.
- Activities:
- Major essay and take-home exam; online 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)
- 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. Compare the core political institutions, ideas and activities across diverse states globally.
- Activities:
- Major essay and take-home exam; online 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)
- 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. Build the critical academic skills necessary to develop an argument based on scholarly research.
- Activities:
- Major essay and take-home exam
- 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)
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Melbourne, 2019, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorDirk Tomsa
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 words) | Major essay to be submitted through turnitin | 40 | 02, 03, 04 |
Online LMS quizzes (equivalent to 800 words) | Online assessments linked with in class activities | 20 | 01, 02, 03 |
Take-home exam (1600 words) | Critical evaluations of subject material at the end of the semester to be completed at home over four days. | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |