The alliance between Australia and the United States has grown from a formal treaty arrangement embodied in ANZUS to something far more comprehensive in both the ways in which it is described and the scope of operations, politics and values it is held to cover; indeed, the literature on the alliance refers to these dimensions constantly.  At the same time, however, there is little by way of challenge in the literature to the claims made on behalf of the alliance – suggesting that these either do not exist, or are unimportant.  This is a curious state of affairs because the opposite is the case: in terms of the history that defenders of the alliance appeal to, but also in the realms of every major proclaimed benefit of the alliance, there is substantial and developing body of contrary evidence which can be set rigorously against all of the benefits.  This course will examine the full schedule of proclaimed benefits (what is sometimes called "the sophisticated case for the alliance"), and the evidence that is adduced for them, and juxtapose them with counter-narratives and evidence that has developed over the life of the alliance towards the end of establishing the intellectual, strategic, and political status of the relationship within Australian security strategy

By the end of this course you should be able to:

1. demonstrate a critical appreciation of the key concepts and overarching theories and approaches used by International Relations and Strategic Studies  scholars  in both the university and policy areas of government.

2. as IR and Strategic  analysts, understand the likely dynamics of alliance relationships which must necessarily be factored into both intellectual understanding and policy advice.

3. reflect critically on arrangements which are at the core of national security

Two  research essays of 3000 words each worth 50% (LO 1, 2, 3)

100 hours (approximately) over the duration of the course.  The course will run over the 13 week semester with a 2 hour seminar for 11 of those weeks and 2 weeks set aside for assessment preparation. 

None

Students are expected to have a basic general knowledge of Cold War and Post-Cold War history and a basic general knowledge of the role of the US in the Australian security discourse