166-445 Postcolonial Concerns, Postmodern Theory

Formerly available as 166-060. Students who have completed 166-060 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in political science, Asian studies, development or cultural studies or postgraduate coursework programs in political science.

This subject highlights a range of postcolonial concerns (from theories of translation through to subalternity) and utilises a wide body of postmodern theory (Foucault, Derrida, De Certeau etc.) to examine specific issues of social, cultural and economic development. In particular the subject travels from questions of translation, through interpretations of the Maussian notions of the gift that lead to Derrida and Bataille, and finally into an examination of various aspects of politics and political theory. Students who complete this subject should be able to understand the usefulness and importance of postmodern theory and their reiteration in a number of postcolonial concerns; discuss questions of social transition in a broader more theoretically informed manner; and understand the limits of area studies and applied theory approaches to the construction of knowledge.

• be able to apply research skills and critical methods to a field of inquiry;

• be able to develop persuasive arguments on a given topic;

• be able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.

A research essay of 5000 words 100% (due during the examination period).