Indigenous Peoples in Global Context

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Total of 170 hours

Politics and International Studies or Criminology or Sociology or Indigenous Studies at the Undergraduate level.

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 explores contemporary relationships between Indigenous Peoples and settler societies from sociological, legal, political and social policy perspectives. In a comparative perspective it examines the dynamics of these relationships in terms of national, regional and global political orders, with a particular emphasis on evolving international mechanisms for intervention and reform. It explores the impacts and management of dispossession, Indigenous movements for land rights and self-determination and general movements for reconciliation. The subject is concerned also with the methodological and ethical complexities of conducting research on Indigenous issues both within settler societies and globally.

Upon successful completion of this subject students are expected to:

• Have a critical understanding of the key challenges and controversies concerning the relationship between Indigenous peoples and settler societies;
• Have a critical understanding of the impact and management of dispossession of Indigenous peoples in settler societies and the different ways in which Indigenous peoples have responded;
• Develop a critical sociological, political and legal understanding of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and settler societies;
• Have an understanding of the requirements for ethical and sound research on Indigenous issues.

Class participation (10%), a 1500 word essay (20%) due two weeks after the intensive period, and a 3500 word essay (70%) due end March.

Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, lecture/seminar attendance is compulsory on all 6 days. Regular participation in class 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 reading pack will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who complete this subject should:

• 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.