PLT3521

Parties and Power in Australia ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Brian Costar

Offered:
Clayton Second semester 2005 (Day)

Synopsis: This is an advanced unit in Australian Politics which concentrates on the political party system. It involves an examination of (i) the emergence of the Australian party system; (ii) the organisation and ideologies of the parties; (iii) the role of parties within parties; (iv) the nature of competition among the parties; (v) the relationship between political parties and social movements; and (vi) the relationship between the party system and the electoral system. A theme of the subject will be the way the parties exercise political power in Australia.

Assessment: Essay (2000 words): 40% + Tutorial participation: 10% + Examination (2 hours): 50% + Third-year students will be required to undertake a question during the exam from a section devoted to issues of a more conceptual nature.

Contact Hours: 3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week

Prerequisites: A first-year sequence in Politics or permission.

Prohibitions: PLT2521