AIP107 - Introduction to Politics: Democracy, Power, Resistance and Change
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Maria Rae |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour on-campus lecture per week 1 x 1-hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online lecture per week (recordings provided) 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) | |
Content
This unit considers the core concepts of power, democracy, equality, justice and conflict. It examines state and civil society actors and institutions such as the government, the media, court systems, political parties and social movements. Then the unit considers the main political ideas such as conservatism, liberalism, socialism, feminism, postcolonialism and identity politics. Students will apply that knowledge to how contemporary political issues, such as human rights, gender, race, climate change and welfare are managed. In doing so, the unit compares Australian politics to other liberal democracies such as the United States, Britain and European countries. Students will benefit from this unit by developing key ideas and insights into politics.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Identify and examine key political actors, institutions and ideas | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO2 | Discuss key contemporary political issues | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Compare how key issues are dealt with in different contemporary political systems | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Explain key contemporary political issues from different ideological perspectives | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO5 | Reflect on the capacity of contemporary political actors, institutions and ideas to address key political problems | GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year.
Assessment
Trimester 1:| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Draft Essay Plan | 500 words or equivalent | 15% | Week 3 |
| Assessment 2: First Essay | 1500 words or equivalent | 35% | Week 8 |
| Assessment 3: Second Essay | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIP107 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.