This course analyses the making of political identities in the contemporary world, beginning with 'the world' itself in the context of international processes of globalisation such as migration, development, nationalism, media and popular culture, tourism, transport and trade. It utilises critical accounts and post-modern theories of subjectivity (such as Foucault) to interrogate particular political identities: of state, citizen and nation; culture, religion and place-based identities; and trans-national, hybrid globalised identities and the idea of 'Global Citizenship' or 'Earth Citizenship' as articulated at the World Social Forum. Within this global frame, it pursues the contemporary debate around communitarianism and cosmopolitanism. It concludes with a brief consideration of how international identity politics might figure in determining Australia's place in the world.

By the end of this course students should have achieved the following:

• Assess and understand the various inter-related dimensions of the contemporary global age;
• Utilise and assess postmodern perspectives  on key political identities;
• Develop some capacity to apply theoretical analysis to empirical/historical/cultural sources to better understand global institutions and Australia's place in the world

2500 word research essay: 50%

Examination: 40%

Presentation/Participation: 10%

Two lectures and one tutorial a week for eleven weeks.

Two first-year courses in Political Science if undertaking a Political Science or International Relations major, or two first-year GEND courses if undertaking a Gender, Sexuality and Culture or Women's Studies major with the permission of the lecturer.