Ideas in Politics explores some of the central ideas and debates in politics today, including claims regarding the nature of freedom, democracy, power, and the state. An understanding of these ideas and debates is essential for coming to terms with the key ideological clashes that shape politics today and for making effective interventions into these contests.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- understand the key concepts used in political theory;
- identify some of the divergent aims for which these concepts are mobilised;
- demonstrate theoretical familiarity with some of the major thinkers in the canon of western political thought, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, and Marx;
- theorise politics in the manner of contemporary political theory;
- produce powerful written arguments;
- produce persuasive verbal accounts of politics.
Indicative Assessment
Essay 3000w (45%) [LO 1, 3, 4, 5]
Final Written Assessment 2000w [ie. take-home assignment in weeks 12-13] (45%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 5]
Tutorial work (10%) [LO 6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Lectures will be recorded and notes will be available on Wattle. Students will be expected to spend an average of seven hours per week in addition to three contact hours (two hours of lectures, one hour tutorial) in order to prepare for tutorials, conduct research and prepare the written assignments.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the School of Politics and International Relations to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Andrew Heywood, Political Theory: An Introduction, 3rd Ed. (Palgrave, 2004) and Andrew Heywood, Political Ideologies: An Introduction, 4th Ed. (Palgrave, 2007)
Majors
Minors
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 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1164 | |
| 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 | $2574 |
| 2014 | $3246 |
| 2013 | $3240 |
| 2012 | $3240 |
| 2011 | $3240 |
| 2010 | $3240 |
| 2009 | $3240 |
| 2008 | $3240 |
| 2007 | $3132 |
| 2006 | $3132 |
| 2005 | $3132 |
| 2004 | $2916 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4236 | 17 Feb 2014 | 07 Mar 2014 | 31 Mar 2014 | 30 May 2014 | In Person | N/A |
