This course proceeds from both the assumption that the decision by a government to engage in foreign war - to order its military forces to fight, to kill, and maybe to die - is the most serious that a government can take. It therefore goes to the heart of the state in question and presents an occasion for examining its understandings and practices of international politics. To this end, Australia's international history will be examined in terms of the implications it has for, and the insights it gives into the country's role as a political actor.

To provide critical, political understandings of the rationales for the most important decisions Australian Governments have taken - namely, the decisions to order the nation to war in the name of self-defence, and hence, to order the people to fight, to kill and perhaps to die.

2,500 word essay (50%), two-hour examination (50%) or a take-home final assignment (50%).

1 x two hour lecture and one tutorial per week.

Lectures will be taped.

Two first-year courses in Political Science, or with the permission of the lecturer.