Indonesia Rising?

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 Hours

Please note: students who completed POLS90031 Special Topics: International Relations in Semester 1 2015 are not permitted to enrol in this subject.

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, Learning Outcomes, 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 Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Geography, population, and religion have always made Indonesia and its preceding social formations a critical part of Asia, but for some the country’s economic growth and exit from military rule lead to the emergence of the “Indonesian tiger”, “the repositioning of Asia’s third giant”, and the birth of Indonesia “as a normal country”. Yet endemic corruption, predatory power structures, dysfunctional elements in government, the repression of profound historical trauma within living memory, rising religious intolerance, and persisting elements of military autonomy press the scales in the other direction. Moreover, a distinctive and activist foreign policy faces profound challenges from geopolitical shifts and from the vicissitudes of globalisation in its economic, financial, ecological, and cultural dimensions. A key concern will be the implications of these issues for Indonesia-Australia relations. The subject will also address the effects of the interaction of internal and external elements, locating Indonesia as an agent within, as well as a consequence of, historical and contemporary global dynamics. In addition to guest lecturers from Australia and Indonesia, the subject will also feature presentations by practitioners from politics, the military, and business.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• demonstrate a specialist understanding of the subject being studied; and
• show a good capacity to communicate research in written form; and
• have developed the analytical skills to evaluate the core issue of the subject; and
• have an awareness of the contemporary theoretical debates in the subject; and
• demonstrate an ability to undertake critical independent research.

• A 1,000 word essay (20%), due early semester.
• A 2,000 word essay (40%), due mid-late semester.
• An essay on a set topic of 2,000 words (40%), due in the examination period.

Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Reading materials will be available either online through the LMS.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Student who successfully complete this subject should:

• develop effective oral and written communication skills; and
• display aptitude for theoretical analysis; and
• have the ability to apply research skills to a specific area of inquiry.