166-104 Change and Conflict in Australian Society

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

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Subject Description

An introduction to the various theoretical approaches to the study of social movements and the general issues raised by the problem of social change and political conflict. How and why do political changes occur? If social movements did not exist, would societies need to invent them? After discussing traditional avenues for expressing disagreement within Australian society, such as the Labor Party and the trade unions, the Coalition parties and employer association, the course examines the development and political arguments of the principal Australian new social movements in the past thirty years and the reactions to them: the green movement and the development lobby; the black movement and white racism; the women's movement and antifeminism; the homosexual liberation movements and homophobia; the peace movement and militarism; multiculturalism and its critics. Very recent debates and confrontations, such as those between republicans and monarchists are discussed. Students who complete this subject should be able to: understand the major theoretical approaches to the study of social movements; express familiarity with the development and political arguments of the principal movements for change within Australian society and of the opposition to them; think critically about the problem of social change in the study of political science.

Assessment

Written work of 3000 words and a one-hour, open-notes class test.

Prescribed Texts

• V Burgmann, Power and Protest.
• R Leach, Political Ideologies.