International Relations: Key Questions

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Global politics is one fundamental way of talking about human life on earth. This subject asks, and seeks systematically to answer, a wide range of related questions like: Who governs? Who provides? Who am 'I'? Who owns all this stuff? Who makes it? Whose idea was this anyway? Where are all the women? What's wrong with warmer weather? How reliable is rationalism? Who talks about the Beyond? Who behaves accordingly? In the process this subject discusses the balance of inter-state power, global guerrilla strategies, the energy issue, democracy as a world ideal, patterns of global property possession, world production chains, people smuggling, the role played by norm entrepreneurs, feminism and environmentalism, the globalisation of the modernist project, and where god has gone.

Students who successfully complete this subject should...

• have an appreciation of the contending theories in and approaches to international relations;
• have the background to think critically about these theories and approaches;
• have the ability to apply a variety of theories and approaches to contemporary international relations;
• be able to deploy a range of criticial thinking and analytical skills;
• be able to demonstrate improved writing and oral skills.

Essay of 2,000 words (50%) due mid-semester and a 2-hour exam (50%) held 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.

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

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.

Students who successfully complete this subject should

• be able to research a topic 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 logically and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion.
• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision.
• be able to participate in team work through small group discussions.