Overview

This unit explores the unprecedented and wide-ranging effects of globalisation on labour markets, organisations and cultures around the world. This unit assess how labour, capital and governments react to rapidly changing environments. Focusing on case studies with work-related themes, this unit will help students develop an in-depth understanding, along with analytical and critical thinking skills, of this fast evolving but highly important area.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically analyse historical and contemporary debates around labour, globalisation and capital markets.
  • Identify and differentiate between the major theories of unionism, economic liberalism, socialism and protectionism.
  • Apply relevant theories to labour-related themes.
  • Critically evaluate relevant theoretical models and concepts.
  • Critically assess labour-related methods, approaches and cases, working independently and with others

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class		2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various		5.83 12 weeks 70
Unspecified Activities
Various		3.67 12 weeks 44
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 50% 1,2,3,4 
PresentationGroup 20% 3,4,5 
ReportIndividual 30% 1,2 

Content

  • The transformation of labour in the twenty-first century
  • The rise and rise of the big economy
  • The rise and fall of globalisation
  • Global governance 
  • Global discontent
  • Global solutions

Study resources

Reading materials

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