Overview

This cross-disciplinary unit introduces fundamentals of political philosophy and presents a range of critical perspectives on the question of power, drawn from a range of scholarly approaches.

Requisites

Equivalent units
PHI10007 What is Power?
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-February-2026
29-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
08-March-2026
Census date
24-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-April-2026
Results released date
09-June-2026
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
25-September-2026
Last self-enrolment date
05-July-2026
Census date
21-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
11-August-2026
Results released date
06-October-2026
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
19-October-2026
29-January-2027
Last self-enrolment date
01-November-2026
Census date
17-November-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
15-December-2026
Results released date
09-February-2027

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Review the structures, dynamics and relationships of power in society, politics and international relations.
  • Apply theoretical models to the analysis of power.
  • Critically evaluate different perspectives on practical issues and problems.
  • Perform logical analysis and develop well-informed arguments.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
(Lecture)		 2.00  12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Tutorial 1)		 2.00  12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Tutorial 2)		 2.00  12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
(Independent Learning)		 6.50  12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Group Discussions Individual  20% 1,2,3,4 
Essay Individual  30%  1,2,3,4 
Essay Plan and Bibliography Individual 10% 1,2,3,4
Presentation Individual  20%  1,2,3,4 
Quizzes Individual  20%  1,2,3

Content

  • Conceptions of Power
  • Social Power
  • Power at Work: Capital & Labour
  • The Origin of Politics and the History of Democracy
  • Political Ideologies
  • Political Institutions
  • Democracy & Accountability
  • Power in International Relations
  • Race, Colonialism and Gender
  • Power & Technology
  • Power, Agency & Structure

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.