POLI3011 People and Politics: Australia, Canada and the United States

2019

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

POLI3012 has been successfully completed

Familiarity with basic Australian or US politics as would normally be provided in second level topics in these areas.

Associated majors: Public Policy: Political Studies

Bachelor of Government and Public Management

This topic explores the contemporary politics of Australia, Canada and the United States in comparative terms, beginning with the social structures of the three countries. The connection between social structure and federalism is explored. The topic also examines, again comparatively, the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the national governments in the three nations, comparing the power of executives, the effectiveness of the legislatures and the role of 'rights' in the three juridical systems. Political parties are central to all three nations, but they are remarkably different, especially in terms of their expectations of party line voting. Policy outcomes on the matters such as immigration, health care and gun control are examined. As 'settler societies', all three nations displaced their aboriginal peoples and that, and subsequent policy, is explored here too. The goal of the topic is to understand Australia better and to recognise in the diversity of the way these three nations function, possibilities for reform both here and there.

Students successfully completing this topic shoud be able to:

1. Discuss the political and policy evolution of Australia, Canada and the United States

2. Articulate differences in the operation and outcomes of a parliamentary and non-parliamentary forms of government function

3. Be able to pursue a research agenda and answer a concise research question in each of these three nations

4. Appreciate the value of comparative research for questions of both policy development and political reform