ATS3903 - Leaders, power and politics - 2018

Leadership is indispensable to politics. Yet it is also a problematic concept within liberal democracies that have traditionally set out to constrain leadership authority. In recent times in Australia and other comparable parliamentary democracies debate has surfaced about the growth of leadership power (particularly that of prime ministers) as a result of institutional changes in the political system and other developments in the practice of politics. This unit examines changes in the nature and role of leadership in Australian politics. It also theorises political leadership, introducing students to political psychology that explores the complex relationship between leaders and followers.

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

1. understand how liberal-democratic systems have traditionally addressed the issue of leadership;
2. understand debates about the augmentation of prime ministerial power in Australia and comparable parliamentary democracies;
3. understand some of the theoretical debates about leadership and political psychology and the relationship between leaders and followers;
4. apply theoretical understandings to a case study of Australian political leadership;
5. display developing skills in spoken and written communication in addressing questions of the changing relationship between leadership and politics;

Within semester assessment: 70% + Exam: 30%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Politics