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Global Issues in Indigenous Governance (PPMN90054)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
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This subject enables students to compare the policy developments involved in politically, legally and constitutionally recognising Indigenous rights and sovereignty in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, with a particular focus on the negotiation of treaties. Starting with a focus on the Victorian experience, students will identify the most pertinent issues that should be considered by the Victorian Government in negotiating a treaty or treaties with Aboriginal peoples. Comparative cases will include the Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the modern treaty process in Canada, specifically in the province of British Columbia. Students will consider how these treaty processes have hindered and/or facilitated effective policy development and Indigenous governance.
With the assistance of public policy academics and practitioners, participants will construct their own case study of citizen-state relationships focusing on debates around rights, sovereignty, decolonisation, self-determination, access to services and economic development and propose some key recommendations for future reforms.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Collect, arrange and assemble the most relevant evidence to best equip policy makers in comprehending the challenges in formulating policy related to treaties
- Compare and contrast the most significant political and policy developments in Australian and New Zealand Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander/Māori recognition and reconciliation and identify the most pressing contemporary challenges (and their connection to historical injustices)
- Examine an unfamiliar policy case in the Latin America and assemble a carefully curated collection of evidence
- Propose clearly and convincingly formulated recommendations to governments that can be feasibly and appropriately implemented.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should have:
- In-depth knowledge of the disciplines of political science and policy and administration, and the ability to examine governance, policy and public sector reform issues from other disciplinary perspectives
- Critical and strong reasoning skills, and creativity in applying theory and research methods to complex practical problems across diverse contexts
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- An advanced appreciation of the Asian and Pacific regions, including Indigenous knowledge, cultures and values and sustainable futures
- Autonomy, self-motivation, self-direction and outstanding organisational skills to set goals and manage time and priorities
- Skills in self-assessment, self-awareness, reflective and lifelong learning, with an overriding commitment to personal and professional integrity.
Last updated: 4 March 2025