New Histories of Australian Politics

This subject is not offered in 2011.

The subject will examine the ways in which historians, commentators, political scientists and sociologists treat Australian politics, and how their work has shaped the writing of Australian history. It will engage students in different theoretical approaches to class, gender, race and identity, and different methodological treatment of organisation, representation and public life. Topics will include historical writing on political parties of the right and left, Aboriginal politics, the politics of gay activists, religion in politics, environmentalists, anti-globalism and "anti-political" movements. Students should gain insight into the changing boundaries of politics, and the place of politics in Australian history.

• be able to develop an understanding of the practice of political history writing in Australia.
• gain experience in public writing bases on scholarly research.
• improve their critical interpretive skills through the writing of a major research essay

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources.
• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument.
• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.