Communication and Governance

This subject is not offered in 2012.

None

None

Politics and International Studies or Sociology at Undergraduate Level

166-413 Network Society

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 critically investigates the changing forms of governance in democratic polities in the wake of the informational age. Using communication as a central analytical category, the subject considers how democratic political systems are coping with increasing societal dynamism, diversity and complexity. It explores and critically examines the proposition that contemporary governance is essentially a communications challenge. The types of issues covered include the impact of information dynamics on political and social patterns, the proliferation of strategic communication practices, democratic deficits and public consultation, and leadership as crisis management. On completion of this subject students should have a critical understanding of key configurations of contemporary governance as communication.

• have acquired a critical understanding of contemporary governance systems.
• have a fundamental grasp of key problems in theories of informational society.
• have an appreciation of the role of communication in social organization.
• have developed the basic analytical skills to evaluate differing theoretical perspectives.
• have a good familiarity with differing research approaches to political and social inquiry.

A research essay proposal of 500 words (10%) due mid-semester, and a research essay of 4500 words (90%) due in the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed.Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment for this subject.Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment that is submitted after the due date and up to 10 working days late without an approved extension will be marked on a pass/fail basis only. Assessment that is submitted later than 10 working days will not be accepted or marked. 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 is not available as a breadth subject.

• be able to apply research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry.
• be able to develop persuasive arguments on a given topic.
• be able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.