HIST1803 'The Lucky Country'? Australia and the World since 1939

Associate Professor Catherine Kevin

2017

4.5

1 x 2-hour lecture weekly
1 x 50-minute tutorial weekly

Associated majors: History; American Studies; Australian Studies

Assignment(s), Test(s), Tutorial participation.

This topic aims to

Introduce students to key events and the emergence of political ideas and movements in this period in Australia
Set some of these events and ideas in international context, including the political movements of Indigenous Australians and immigrants to Australia and their supporters in the context of an emerging international human rights agenda in this period
Examine their implications for the lives of ordinary Australians
Explore these issues through primary and secondary sources, thereby developing students' abilities to distinguish between the two and interpret them accordingly and in their relevant contexts
Develop students' written and oral communication skills, and their research skills
Foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation that encourages students to both learn through collaboration and to become independent and critical thinkers

Students successfully completing this topic should be able to demonstrate through written and oral communication:

Familiarity with political events and preoccupations that have shaped Australia since 1939, including an emerging international human rights agenda and its relevance to the political campaigns of Indigenous Australians and immigrants to Australia
Familiarity with several key debates about the place of Australia in the world, past and present
An ability to critically assess representations of the past in primary and secondary sources, with particular attention to the ways in which ideas about gender, race, class, nation and regionalism play a part in shaping individual and collective political identities
An ability to identify and interpret primary sources in their historical contexts

Students should also be able to demonstrate their ability to engage in the learning process both as colloborators in a classroom environment that fosters ethical behaviour, and as independent researchers.

Key dates and timetable

Timetable details for 2017 are no longer published.

This information is from current details held on the Student Information System. Please report any errors or omissions to the relevant College Office.