Monash University

Leader: Professor Carla Lipsig-Mumme and Dr Christiane Weller

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield First semester 2008 (Evening)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Evening)

Synopsis

Contested Terrain: Studies in Social Power, Conflict and the Study of the Mind, is one of two core units in the new Master of Mind and Society. This unit and presents to students six key thinkers on issues of contemporary societal conflict debate, whose thinking affects how the public and practitioners shape their response both in their professional practice and as citizens. It is a capstone unit for the MA programme.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this subject students should have:

1. acquired knowledge of the social, political, historical and psychodynamic contexts in which each social issue is to be understood

2. be familiar with the major positions developed around each of the six social issues,

3. be able to link socio-political and pyschodynamic analysis of any social issue

4. a good grasp of key texts reflecting the intellectual debates that expose these issues,

5. have learnt to identify ideological orientations and link these to historical and social contexts.

They should be capable of:

1. critical analysis of theoretical positions around each of the social issues;

2. presenting the results of their own research in the form of a research essay

3. identifying the intellectual, policy, and political relationships between the themes

Assessment

Research essay (6,000 words): 60%;

Class presentation of readings (2,000 words) 20%;

Annotated bibliography and presentation of research question and outline of argument (2,000 words) 20%

Contact hours

1 two hour seminar per week