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Special Topics A International Relations (POLS90031)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | January |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines contemporary issues in contemporary international relations and the policy issues they raise. It draws on the expertise of prominent foreign academic and practitioner visitors to the School of Social and Political Sciences and reflects one or more of the School's core research areas and policy concerns.
January 2018: China’s Foreign Policy: A Chinese Perspective
Professor Pan Zhongqi, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
With the historical rise of China, China’s foreign policy and international behaviour have been hotly debated in both policy and academic circles. Key questions have been raised and approached generally from a western perspective. These include how China handles its border and maritime disputes with neighboring countries, how China’s foreign policy principles and initiatives have been proposed and implemented, whether China will become a revisionist state or a status quo power in the dynamic regional and global orders, how China manages its relations with major powers in the world, and what role China will play in global governance. Various IR theoretical perspectives have attempted to provide answers to these and related questions, but there is little agreement among western analysts. This subject will provide an alternative Chinese perspective on these issues. It will begin with an exploration of the Chinese way of thinking, and distinguish it from western approaches. In addition to contending IR theories, the distinctive Chinese way of thinking will a fresh perspective that will help to decipher China’s otherwise puzzling foreign policy. To better understand China’s international engagement, this subject will examine key issues including China’s foreign policymaking mechanism, new foreign policy initiatives such as One Belt and One Road, China’s regional engagement, China’s handling of land border and maritime disputes, China’s relations with major powers such as the US, China’s position towards international order, and China and global governance.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- be able to demonstrate a specialist understanding of the subject being studied;
- show a good capacity to communicate research in written form;
- have developed the analytical skills to evaluate the core issue of the subject;
- have an awareness of the contemporary theoretical debates in the subject;
- be able to demonstrate an ability to undertake critical independent research.
Generic skills
On competion of this subject students should:
- develop effective oral and written communication skills;
- display aptitude for theoretical analysis;
- ability to apply research skills to a specific area of inquiry.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Politics and International Studies at Undergraduate level
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- A 1,000 word essay (20%) due 2 weeks after the intensive teaching period.
- A 4,000 word research essay (80%) due 6 weeks after the intensive teaching period.
- Hurdle requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory for all classes and regular class participation is expected.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- January
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 contact hours: A 3 hour seminar each day, over 8 days. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 29 January 2018 to 8 February 2018 Last self-enrol date 31 January 2018 Census date 9 February 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 2 March 2018 Assessment period ends 22 March 2018
Time commitment details
Total of 170 hours.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of the subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) Politics and International Studies Informal specialisation PD-ARTS Politics and International Studies Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of International Relations Informal specialisation Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced) - Politics and International Studies Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of International Relations - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022