PLT3521 - Parties and power in Australia

Leader(s): Nick Economou

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This is an advanced unit in Australian Politics which concentrates on the political party system. It involves an examination of

1. the emergence of the Australian party system;
2. the organisation and ideologies of the parties;
3. the role of parties within parties;
4. the nature of competition among the parties;
5. the relationship between political parties and social movements; and
6. 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