AUTHORITARIAN EMPIRES: RUSSIA, CHINA AND THE POLITICS OF EURASIA

POL3INR

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject examines the emergence of Russia and China as authoritarian great powers and regional hegemons during the past quarter century. By a comparative approach, students will learn about how these states grappled with the legacy of communism, laid new ideological foundations, reformed political institutions, transformed their economies, and embarked upon expansionist projects. The course will illuminate the domestic challenges faced by these regimes, such as corruption, civic activism, ethnonationalism, and separatism. It will also pose questions about the significance of their collaboration on the international stage, their competition in Central Asia, and their relationship with the West.

School: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Robert Horvath

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Exchange Students: No

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: 15 credit points of any second year Politics subject and 15 credit points of any Humanities and Social Sciences subject, or subject coordinator's approval

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing

DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. An understanding of the evolution of post-1989 China and Russia and their impact on the world

02. Ability to compare critically the evolution of the Chinese and Russian political systems

03. Ability to conduct secondary source research to establish the scholarly context and the lines of debate surrounding issues of contention in post-1989 Chinese and Russian politics

04. Ability to conduct original research, using English-language primary sources, on Chinese and Russian politics

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 2, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Robert Horvath

Class requirements

LectureWeek: 31 - 43
Twelve 2.00 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

TutorialWeek: 31 - 43
Twelve 1.00 hour tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	Category	Contribution	Hurdle	%	ILO*
One 15 minute Tutorial presentation (equivalent to approximately 500 words)The 500 word written version of the paper will be assessed	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	15	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3
One 2000 word Argumentative Research Essay	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	50	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4
One take-home examination essay (1500 words)To a significant degree, this essay will require students to apply lessons learned from the feedback to the argumentative research essay.	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	35	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4