International Politics

Subject INTS10001 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 2 x one hour lectures and 1 x one hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:

None

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

166-103 International Politics

166-103 Global Politics

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Ms Avery Poole

Contact

Avery Poole

adpoole@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject provides students with an introduction to the actors, institutions, dynamics and key debates that make up international politics. It equips students to 'go behind the news' theories of world affairs and understand the deeper structural and political changes and challenges confronting states, citizens and non-state actors in our increasingly interconnected world. Topics covered include the United Nations, the changing nature of war, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, great power rivalry and American power, human rights, humanitarian intervention, trade liberalisation and its critics, global inequality, climate change, and the refugee crisis. The topics will be used to demonstrate the relevance of competing theories of international politics, including realism, liberalism and critical theories (such as Marxism and feminism) against the background of the shift from the Cold War to the post-Cold War period.

Objectives:
  • become acquainted with a range of important issues in international politics.
  • develop analytical and critical capacities, and an ability to apply these to contemporary issues of global importance.
  • achieve a basic grounding in the major conceptual frameworks in the area of international politics.
Assessment:

An essay of 1000 words (25%) due mid-semester, an essay of 2000 words (50%) due at the end of semester, and a take-home exam of 1000 words (25%) due during the examination period.

This subject has a minimum Hurdle Requirement of 75% Tutorial attendance. Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment or sit the final examination.Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.

Recommended Texts:

John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owen (eds.), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays.
  • be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations.
  • be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion.
  • be able to participate in teamwork through small group discussions.
  • be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision.
Notes:

Available as a Breadth subject to non-Bachelor of Arts students.

Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Development Studies
Development Studies Major
Environmental Studies
International Studies Major
Political Science Major
Politics and International Studies
Politics and International Studies
Politics and International Studies
Related Breadth Track(s): Politics and International Studies

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