ATS2947 · Election, parties and voters

Overview

In this unit, you will explore the ways in which elections, parties and voters intersect to impact the operation of political systems. You will begin this unit by examining the emergence of modern elections, the functions that they perform, and locate their broader contemporary political significance. You will also examine the broader forces leading to the rise of parties, paying particular attention to how they have come to dominate politics and governance in most modern states. Topics examined in this unit include party organisation, ideology, voter behaviour, electoral rules and party system dynamics, and party campaigning strategies.

Areas of study: Politics International Relations

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. identify and discuss the function of elections, parties and voters, and the ways in which each of these phenomena have changed over time in both democracies and non democracies;
2. apply theories on voter behaviour, party systems and parties, to an analysis of elections and political systems;
3. analyse and discuss the intersections and synergies across elections, parties and voters, and their impacts on public policy and governance;
4. collaborate with others on group projects to conduct research and communicate findings in varied formats and for a range of audiences.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.