Special subjects offered in 2005

These descriptions are for special subjects offered in the Department for 2005 only.

• 166-421 Politics 4A
• 166-422 Politics 4B
• 166-535 International Politics: Special Topics
• 166-538 Public Policy: Special Topics

166-421 Politics 4A

Semester 1: Not available

Semester 2:
Middle Eastern Politics
Coordinator: Dr. Jeremy Salt
Availability: Students enrolled in Political Science & Public Policy Honours / Postgraduate Diploma, and Master of International Politics (1st year of 2-year Program).
Credit points: 12.5
Seminar Time/Location: Intensive seminars
Thursday 14th July 9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday 15th July 9:00am – 6:00pm
Monday 18th July 9:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday 19th July 9:00am – 6:00pm
Room 442, John Medley Building
Description: TBA

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166-422 Politics 4B

Semester 1: Not available

Semester 2:
Ethics and International Relations
Coordinator: Dr. Hugh Collins
Availability: Students enrolled in Political Science & Public Policy Honours / Postgraduate Diploma, and Master of International Politics (1st year of 2-year Program).
Credit points: 12.5
Seminar Time/Location: Thursday 11:00am – 1:00pm,
Room 512, John Medley Building
Description: TBA

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166-535 International Politics: Special Topics

Semester 1:
International Organisations and their Role in Global Politics
Coordinator: Prof. Mark Alleyne
Availability: Students enrolled in the Master of International Politics (1-year Program or 2nd year of the 2-year Program). With special permission from the subject coordinator, students in Political Science 4th-year Honours / Postgraduate Diploma may enroll.
Credit points: 12.5
Seminar Time/Location: Intensive seminars
Saturday 9th April 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 10th April 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday 16th April 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 17th April 10:00am – 5:00pm
Description: TBA

Semester 2:
Trade and Environment
Coordinator: Dr. David Morgan
Availability: Students enrolled in the Master of International Politics (1-year Program or 2nd year of the 2-year Program). With special permission from the subject coordinator, students in Political Science 4th-year Honours / Postgraduate Diploma may enroll.
Credit points: 12.5
Seminar Time/Location: Tuesday 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Room 412, John Medley Building
Description: This subject offers a multidisciplinary perspective on the interaction between trade and environment. The principal focus is on the relationship between the international trade and environment regimes, including the impact of disputes in the WTO. The starting point is an examination of the political economy of trade and environment, including the impact on and views of developing countries. A key issue to be considered is the relationship between environment and trade agreements, including the use of trade measures in environment agreements and environment provisions in trade agreements. A number of environment-related disputes considered under the WTO dispute-settlement process will be analysed to understand both the WTO legal framework and the relevant WTO Agreements. Some specific issues will be considered, including climate change, the precautionary principle and GMOs. Finally, the prospects for the future will be examined: will there be a clash of cultures, co-existence or cooperation? What impact would a Global Environment Organisation make?

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166-538 Public Policy: Special Topics

Semester 1: Not available

Semester 2:
Human Rights, State Violence and Polity
Coordinator: Dr. Andrew Schaap
Availability: Students enrolled in Political Science & Public Policy Honours / Postgraduate Diploma, and Master of International Politics (1st year of 2-year Program).
Credit points: 12.5
Seminar Time/Location: Tuesdays 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Room 211, Level 2, 234 Queensberry Street
Description: This subject examines the politics of human rights, state violence and transitional justice from the perspective of contemporary political theory. It addresses questions such as: How do human rights relate to ideals of political community? How do universal human rights come to be recognised by a particular historical community? Are human rights and democratic self-determination contradictory or mutually supporting principles? In what sense might ordinary citizens be held collectively responsible for human rights violations perpetrated in their name? Questions such as these will be approached through a close reading of texts that have been influential in recent debates in political theory. Students will develop a research proposal and undertake independent research on a theoretical aspect of a human rights issue of particular concern to them. Students will review each other's research proposals and will be encouraged to report on research-in-progress in weekly seminars. On completing the subject students should have a deeper understanding of the conceptual and normative issues at stake in the politics of human rights.

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