Politics Study Notes

Students examine the causes, consequences and significance of a global issue that transcends national and regional boundaries. They consider the range of factors that may cause conflict, such as social, political, economic, environmental, ideological, cultural and/or technological factors. Students investigate the effectiveness of the institutions available to address these issues, including international laws and the global institutions that facilitate cooperation between global actors.

Students examine a contemporary humanitarian crisis from the area of human rights, armed conflict or the mass movement of people. They analyse the causes of their chosen crisis, the interests and perspectives of the actors involved, and evaluate the extent to which political stability and/or change is possible through the responses of political actors.

Students explore power and politics in the Indo-Pacific through a detailed study of ONE state in the Indo-Pacific region (China, Japan, India, Indonesia or the United States of America). They analyse its sources of power, its national interests and the actions undertaken to achieve those interests, as well as the challenges faced and the consequences for regional stability and change.

Students assess the impact of Australia’s policies, actions and inactions in the Indo-Pacific region. They investigate contemporary Australian perspectives of the national interest, examine different perspectives on these interests, and analyse Australia’s foreign policy responses to regional issues and crises by investigating Australia’s relations with three states.