• Offered by School of Politics and International Relations
  • ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Classification Advanced
  • Course subject Political Science
  • Academic career PGRD
  • Mode of delivery In Person
The Alliance in Question: Australia, the United States and the Challenge of Research (POLS8025)

The alliance between Australia and the United States has grown from a formal treaty arrangement embodied in ANZUS to something far more comprehensive in both the ways in which it is described and the scope of operations, politics and values it is held to cover; indeed, the literature on the alliance refers to these dimensions constantly.  At the same time, however, there is little by way of challenge in the literature to the claims made on behalf of the alliance – suggesting that these either do not exist, or are unimportant.  This is a curious state of affairs because the opposite is the case: in terms of the history that defenders of the alliance appeal to, but also in the realms of every major proclaimed benefit of the alliance, there is substantial and developing body of contrary evidence which can be set rigorously against all of the benefits.  This course will examine the full schedule of proclaimed benefits (what is sometimes called "the sophisticated case for the alliance"), and the evidence that is adduced for them, and juxtapose them with counter-narratives and evidence that has developed over the life of the alliance towards the end of establishing the intellectual, strategic, and political status of the relationship within Australian security strategy

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

By the end of this course you should be able to:

1. demonstrate a critical appreciation of the key concepts and overarching theories and approaches used by International Relations and Strategic Studies  scholars  in both the university and policy areas of government.

2. as IR and Strategic  analysts, understand the likely dynamics of alliance relationships which must necessarily be factored into both intellectual understanding and policy advice.

3. reflect critically on arrangements which are at the core of national security

Indicative Assessment

Two  research essays of 3000 words each worth 50% (LO 1, 2, 3)

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Workload

100 hours (approximately) over the duration of the course.  The course will run over the 13 week semester with a 2 hour seminar for 11 of those weeks and 2 weeks set aside for assessment preparation. 

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
1
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee Description
1994-2003 $1542
2014 $2478
2013 $2472
2012 $2472
2011 $2424
2010 $2358
2009 $2286
2008 $2286
2007 $2286
2006 $2286
2005 $2286
2004 $1926
International fee paying students
Year Fee
1994-2003 $3618
2014 $3762
2013 $3756
2012 $3756
2011 $3756
2010 $3750
2009 $3618
2008 $3618
2007 $3618
2006 $3618
2005 $3618
2004 $3618
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

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There are no current offerings for this course.

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