Rapid global change is taking place at two different if interacting levels: short term changes, notably the consequences of the financial crisis; and longer term changes, illustrated by the relative rise of China, India, Russia, Brazil, Europe and others leading to a diminution of US unipolarity. 

We will look at four broad areas of global challenge and Australia's responses:

• Globalization, including how it has been affected by the financial crisis (is there a new normal?) and how does this affect the role of Australian governments and relations with other countries, particularly in Asia.
• Global order changes, including a more constrained US dominance, the continuing war on terror and terrorism; the rise of Islam and of religion more generally on global politics and their implications for Australia; multilateralism, Australia's relations with the UN and other multilateral institutions; and alliance relations with the US.
• Global demographic and economic changes, including the shifts in material structures among the US, Russia, Asia and the Rest; the geopolitics of energy and other resource issues; the likely expansion of nuclear energy and proliferation questions; and global climate change.
• The rise of Asia, including its bilateral and multilateral political, security and economic links; the growing importance of China and India; Australia's responses as a country between China (and Asia) and the West; and Asian regional institutions.

This course will examine the rapidly changing global geopolitical, strategic and economic systems and the challenges these changes offer.  Its aim will be to enable students to understand their importance and to assess how far Australia's global viewpoints, strategies and policies provide effective responses to these challenges.

Two essays, totaling between them, 5,000 - 6,000 words, plus short seminar presentations.

12 two-hour seminars