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This course is about power and its disguises. It deals with questions of politics and material interests, and identifies economic power as fundamental to understanding politics in Australia and globally. We look at
- the social forces and arrangements, notably class structures, that dominate our lives
- economic rationalist, social democratic and Marxist ideas that justify or explain political action and economic policies
- institutions, conflicts and struggles that shape these policies in Australia and internationally
Issues we examine include inequality, racism, war and globalisation.
No background in political science or political economy is assumed. We debate and explore current Australian and international issues as they arise in the media.
The course helps students develop individual and collective critical and analytical skills for discussing, researching, writing and debating about Australian and international political economy. Suggestions about the structure and content of the course are welcome.
Coordinator: Rick Kuhn
Contact Hours: Two to three hour lecture block and one tutorial a week. The lecture block includes a period for discussion of current developments in Australian and international political economy.
Proposed Assessment:
Book review, essay and role play)
Preliminary Reading: Rick Kuhn (ed.) Class and struggle in Australia, Pearson, Frenchs Forest 2005.
Majors: This course can be counted towards the Political Science or International Relations majors.
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