POLS1004 Money, Power, War

First Year Course

Offered By	School of Social Sciences
Academic Career	Undergraduate
Course Subject	Political Science
Offered in	Second Semester, 2009
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	This course is about power and its disguises. It deals with questions of politics and material interests, and identifies economic power as fundamental to understanding politics in Australia and globally. We look at the social forces and arrangements, notably class structures, that dominate our lives economic rationalist, social democratic and Marxist ideas that justify or explain political action and policies institutions, conflicts and struggles that shape these actions and policies in Australia and internationally Issues we examine include inequality, racism, war and globalisation. No background in political science or political economy is assumed. We debate and explore current Australian and international issues as they arise in the media. The overall framework of the course is Marxist. The course helps students develop individual and collective critical and analytical skills for understanding, discussing, researching, writing and debating about Australian and international political economy.
Learning Outcomes	Develop participants' individual and collective critical and analytical skills for understanding, discussing, researching, writing and debating about Australian and international political economy.
Indicative Assessment	Book review (25-35%), essay (45-55%) and role play (20-30%).
Workload	Two lectures, one discussion period and one tutorial per week.
Areas of Interest	Political Sciences
Prescribed Texts	Kuhn, R (ed.), Class and struggle in Australia, Pearson, 2005.
Majors/Specialisations	American Studies, Contemporary Europe, International Relations, Political Science, Cognitive Major (Asian Politics and International Relations), and Cognitive Major (Security Studies)
Academic Contact	Dr Kuhn

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.