Course overview
The course explores the future of politics with examples drawn from Australia and elsewhere. One set of concerns relates to the relationship between democratic politics and globalisation. Has the emergence of more globalised economic relations and agreements hollowed out the space for democratic politics and policy, and if so, what are the implications for democratic politics? Are party systems increasingly disengaged from civil society and social forces, and if so, what are the implications for the future of representative democracy, particularly in Europe? Another set of concerns relate to the emergence of new social forces, social movements, and populist politics - often in response to global forces and changes? and their capacity to reshape political contestation. Is there a new politics emerging? We are particularly concerned with looking at the nature of these forces in both developed and developing countries, including China and India. A final set of concerns relate to authoritarian politics and the emergence of new forms of authoritarianism around the globe.
Course learning outcomes
- Formulate informed perspectives on the nature of a political change in Australia and abroad
- Debate key theoretical approaches to the study of political change and democratizatioN
- Examine the relationship between globalization and political change in democratic and non-democratic systems
- Assess the significance of ‘new’ socio-political actors as facilitators of a political change in developed and developing states
- Reflect upon the resistance of authoritarianism and the retreat of democracy in the 21st century
- Participate in group discussions about contested concepts with confidence and with tolerance for other points of view
- Demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Navigate the large amounts of research material available in this subject through both traditional academic sources and through the use of information technology