International Politics 2006-2010
The VCE International Politics Study Design has been accredited for the period 2006-2010.
Overview
This is a new study with six units. Students may study and receive credit for all six units.
The study comprises:
- Unit 1: Politics, power and people
- Unit 2: The global picture
- Units 3 and 4: National Politics
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- Unit 3: Democracy in the making
- Unit 4: The challenge of power
- Units 3 and 4: International Studies
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- Unit 3: Global issues and conflicts
- Unit 4: International relations
Units 1 and 2: International Politics
These units provide:
- an introduction to politics, government and international relations
- do not have a specifically Australian focus
- act as a foundation for both sets of 3 and 4 units.
Unit 1: Politics, Power and People
Unit 1 considers key concepts, processes and relationships within and between different political structures and systems. It introduces students to the study of politics by considering key concepts and ideas including representation, power and democracy. Students compare a democratic and non democratic system and consider leadership through the study of a post-World War II leader/s.
Area of Study 1 - Democracies and dictatorship
This area of study introduces key concepts, values, ideologies, structures and processes that define nation states. Students undertake a comparative study of a contemporary democratic and non democratic system.
Area of Study 2 - Leading people
This area of study focuses on the values, goals, style and impact of post-World War II political leader/s. Students consider the leader’s contribution to national and international politics and the extent to which the leader was/is able to exercise power.
Unit 2: The Global Picture
Unit 2 considers international relations through a consideration of key concepts, organisations and contemporary international relationships. Students consider key concepts and events in contemporary international relations. Students investigate how a selected state (or group of states) exercises power internationally and a current international conflict/area of instability.
Area of Study 1 - Looking out
This area of study is an introduction to international politics. Students consider concepts in international relations and key events since World War II. Students investigate ways in which a particular nation state is able to exercise international and or regional influence.
Area of Study 2 - The international community
This area of study considers the extent to which the international community is cohesive and can manage conflict and instability. Students investigate an example of changed national borders or new nation states and a contemporary example of international cooperation and conflict/instability.
Units 3 and 4: National Politics
Unit 3: Democracy in the Making
This unit provides students with an overview of Australia’s system of government with its influences from the British and the United States systems. Students undertake a comparative study of the Australian and United States systems by considering values, ideologies, structures and institutions. This provides a context for Area of Study 2, that focuses on reforms to the Australian system to better fulfil democratic values.
Area of Study 1: Washington to Canberra
This area of study focuses on a comparative study of the Australian and the United States political systems. Students compare both systems including the extent to which they uphold democratic values. Consideration is given to values, ideologies, and institutional structures, sources of power, participation, representation and accountability. Domestic issues that challenge the stability of each system are also analysed.
Area of Study 2: Continuity and change
This area of study focuses on the strengths and weakness of and the need for change to the Australian political system. Students consider the extent to which the Australian political system reflects democratic values and is relevant to contemporary Australia. Students study an area of suggested change and forces promoting or resisting change.
Unit 4: The Challenge of Power
This unit considers influences on and challenges to Australian domestic and foreign policy making and implementation. Students investigate a domestic policy issue and key elements of Australia’s foreign policy.
Area of Study 1 - People and policy
This area of study provides an overview of policy formulation and implementation and factors affecting these processes. Students analyse a contemporary Australian domestic policy issue including how it is presented by the media.
Area of Study 2 - Contemporary foreign policy
This area of study focuses on a consideration of Australian foreign policy making and implementation and key international and national issues that challenge the foreign policy agenda. Students study a contemporary regional issue affecting Australian foreign policy.
Units 3 and 4: International Studies
Unit 3: Global Issues and Conflicts
Unit 3 investigates recent global politics and incorporates a detailed examination of the concepts of globalisation and internationalism. The second area of study in this unit examines the nature of conflict in the post-Cold War world including a look at key concepts such as ‘superpower’, ‘terror’ and ‘terrorism’ post September 11.
Unit 4: International Relations
This unit focuses on the Asia-Pacific region and Australia’s interaction with the international community. The Asia-Pacific Region unit specifically examines the concept of power and the way that states use power in their relations with each other as they pursue their national interest. The unit finishes with a study of Australian foreign policy that examines the nature of Australia’s position in the region and the world.
Assessment
Student achievement of the outcomes in Units 1 and 2 will be based upon the student’s performance on a number of assessment tasks. Teachers can choose to use one or more tasks for each outcome.
The variety of School-assessed Coursework tasks is the same for both National Politics and International Studies. To assess the student's performance on each outcome teachers can choose to use one or more assessment tasks.
Enquiries about the content of the Study Design can be directed to:
Patricia Hincks, Curriculum Manager, Humanities
Telephone: (03) 9651 4439
Email: hincks.patricia.m@edumail.vic.gov.au
