AIP301 - Political Parties and Social Movements
Unit details
| Year: | 2020 unit information |
|---|---|
| Important Update: | Classes and seminars in Trimester 2/Semester 2, 2020 will be online. Physical distancing for coronavirus (COVID-19) will affect delivery of other learning experiences in this unit. Please check your unit sites for announcements and updates one week prior to the start of your trimester or semester. Last updated: 2 June 2020 |
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Geoffrey Robinson |
| Prerequisite: | One unit at level 2 in the Politics and Policy Studies major, or equivalent, or with the permission of the Unit Chair |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | AIP207 |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 2-hour class per week |
| Scheduled learning activities - cloud: | 1 x 2-hour class per week (recordings provided) |
Content
A contrast between declining interest in formal politics and increasing interest in the less formal politics of social movements poses challenges to conventional understandings of what should be the main form of democratic mobilisation, organisation and expression. Why are so many people in advanced First World countries cynical about politicians? What can political parties do about this? What has been happening to the nature, operation and function of political parties? This unit will further students’ knowledge of political parties and social movements by surveying the histories and various configurations of political parties in Australia and other countries. It will also examine how other forms of mobilisation, including social movements, help to revitalise democracy. Topics include: labour movements and parties of labour; conservative and liberal parties; centrist parties; agrarian parties; civil rights and indigenous peoples’ rights movements; student radicalism including in the “sixties”; green movements and parties; feminist movements; new-right movements and neo-liberal parties; xenophobic populist parties; and the anti-corporate or global economic justice movement and Occupy Wall Street movements.
| These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | ||
| ULO1 | Review and analyse major theoretical, conceptual, and policy debates about the nature and significance of political parties and social movements | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of research on political parties and social movements that deploys political concepts, theories and technical knowledge, in written and oral formats, to an informed readership and audience | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Analyse and critically evaluate different interpretations of political parties and social movements Demonstrate knowledge of the different theoretical approaches used to investigate political phenomena Recognise the importance of ethical standards of conduct in the research and analysis of politics | 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 - Essay | 2000 words | 50% | Information not yet available |
| Assessment 2 - Essay | 2000 words | 50% | Information not yet available |
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 the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: AIP301 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
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