Politics empowers students to understand the distribution and exercise of power. Get engaged, active, and reflexive to your political world. And in Canberra, the political heart of the nation, you’ll appreciate how critical it is that we understand how we choose in groups.
Students investigate a range of theories developed to explain the nature and use of political power in the world. They examine claims about human nature, the nature of political units and political actions using case studies and examples. Students investigate theories, worldviews, and events arising from them. They reflect on and develop their own views on politics and theory. Students develop the research and communication skills relevant to the study of political theories.
Students investigate a range of political systems in the contemporary world. They examine a range of evidence to evaluate the nature and success of those systems in practice, as well as the theoretical perspectives and historical contexts from which they derive. Students clarify their own thinking about the nature of contemporary governmental systems. Students develop the research and communication skills relevant to the study of political systems.
Students investigate the nature of politics in Australia and its relationships with the world. They examine political structures and practices of national and international politics in Australia. Students examine the theory and practice of federalism, national security, and sovereignty. They evaluate the legitimacy and relative power of different structures, institutions, groups, and individuals, and their relationships to Australian politics. Students develop the research and communication skills relevant to the study of Australian politics and diplomacy.
Students investigate pressure group politics at the three levels of government. They investigate the political attitudes and beliefs that lead people to be active in political debates and campaigns. Students evaluate the role of media, social media and technology in the nature and practice of politics, and their own role in that system. They examine themselves and local institutions for the potential to bring about change. Students will develop the research and communication skills relevant to the study of pressure group politics, activism, and protest.