International Politics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Total of 170 hours

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/

This subject provides students with an introduction to the actors, institutions, dynamics and key debates that make up contemporary international politics. It equips students to 'go behind the news' 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 changing nature of war; terrorism; nuclear proliferation; great power rivalry; and the roles of the EU, the US, China and India in international politics; 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).

On completion of this subject students should:

• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of diverse concepts and theories in international politics, including the mainstream theoretical perspectives in the academic discipline of international relations

• Critically apply concepts and theories used in the study of international politics to a range of key empirical issues and debates, and identify the key interests, ideas and institutions in changing contexts.

• Recognise and analyse the major debates in international politics, such as the roles of states, international organisations and other actors; the key sources of insecurity; interpretations of power; and the causes of and responses to structural and political challenges in the world today.

• Identify the ways in which the scope of the study of international politics has broadened over time to include a range of actors and contemporary issues, in an increasingly interconnected world.

• Communicate effectively in oral and written formats.

• An essay of 1000 words (25%) due mid-semester.
• An essay of 2000 words (50%) due towards the end of semester.
• A take-home exam of 1000 words (25%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Note: 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.

A subject reader will be available.

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

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

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

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.

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