Power

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Total Time Commitment: 3 contact hours/week, 5 additional hours/week. Total of 8 hours per week.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The idea of power is a way to grasp the character of social relations. Investigating power can tell us about who is in control and who may benefit from such arrangements. Power can be a zero-sum game of domination. It can also be about people acting together to enact freedom. This subject examines the diverse and subtle ways power may be exercised. It considers how power operates in different domains such as markets, political systems and other social contexts. It also examines how power may be moderated by such things as regulation and human rights. A key aim is to explore how differing perspectives portray power relations and how issues of power distribution may be characterised and addressed.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the way power is exercised and operates;
• Reflect a general understanding of the concepts and principles of power through social and political contexts;
• Access and appreciate national and international debates on power;
• Appreciate the varied constructs of power.

A 500 word bibliographic exercise (15%) due in Week 5, a 2000 word essay (45%) due in Week 9, and a 1500 word take-home exam (40%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: This subject has an attendance hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial attendance (9 out of 12 tutorials) and 75% skills workshop attendance (5 out of 6 skills workshops). Regular participation in tutorials is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion
• Research through competent use of the library and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research
• Engagement with the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences
• Critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities through learning how to construct an argument
• Communicating knowledge and arguments intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion
• Ability to assess the strength of an argument through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion
• Time management and planning through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion