Political Institutions and Policy-Making

Postgraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
POLI 5006
Course ID icon
Course ID
204564
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
5
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
No
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
No
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
No
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

This course provides a general introduction to policy making principles and processes for postgraduate students. the course uses Australia as the main case study but provides comparisons to other states as appropriate. The aim of the course is to provide the political context in which debates about cyber security and other international relations issues takes place. The course utilises a number of approaches to public policy and administration so that students emerge from the course with knowledge about decision-making processes but also the assumptions and constraints which guide those decisions. We cover the main political actors, problem definition, agenda-setting, communication, institutional decision-making, and policy implementation and review.

Course learning outcomes

  • Evaluate the relevant social, historical, economic, ideological and international context and constraints in which policy debates occur and political institutions function
  • Critically analyse the way in which government policies are formulated and given effect, taking into account political, social and economic factors
  • Appraise proposals for cultural awareness to be incorporated into public policy processes, including Australian Aboriginal community knowledge and perspectives
  • Recommend analytically sound arguments for the purpose of influencing contemporary cyber-security policy, drawing on real-world case studies

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A