POLS1102 – Comprehensive Notes for Lecture 1: Unit Introduction

Context and Rationale for Studying Global Politics

The course frames contemporary international life as profoundly unsettled. Students are reminded that traditional markers distinguishing “friends” from “foes” have blurred, with both old (imperial power politics) and new (globalized capitalism under strain) dynamics interacting in unpredictable ways. Australia, situated in the Indo-Pacific, can no longer depend on the post–Cold-War, US-dominated "pax-Americana". Consequently, political, economic, and even domestic social conditions are heavily conditioned by external developments. In a globalized labour market, literacy in world affairs benefits every profession, making the study of global politics practically indispensable.

Teaching Team and Contact Information

Dr Jie Chen, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations, serves as Unit Coordinator. Primary contact is via jie.chen@uwa.edu.au, with face-to-face consultation hours $2\text{–}4\,\text{pm}$ Mondays and $3\text{–}5\,\text{pm}$ Thursdays in Room 257, Social Science Building. Online or e-mail consultations are available outside those windows. The unit also features “wonderful” guest lecturers to deepen topic expertise. Tutorial support is provided by Dr James Davies (james.davies@uwa.edu.au) and Mr Patrick Triglavcanin (patrick.triglavcanin@uwa.edu.au).

Discipline of International Relations: Scope, Evolution, and Interdisciplinarity

Originally a narrowly defined “inter-national” field, International Relations (IR) has broadened beyond the study of major (often Western) nation-states, military power, and formal diplomacy. While states and hard-security issues remain core, IR now systematically analyzes:
• Trans-state actors—intergovernmental organisations, transnational social movements, terrorist networks, multinational firms, and NGO coalitions.
• Issue domains such as climate change, forced migration, and global inequality, all of which transcend borders and challenge state-centric solutions.

Theoretical pluralism both drives and reflects this expansion: next week’s lecture is dedicated to surveying contending IR theories. IR is also intrinsically interdisciplinary, drawing on history, economics, sociology, law, geography, and the wider political-science family. Sub-fields include international political economy, international security, and foreign-policy analysis. Debates about the discipline’s origins persist: Was the formal 1919 founding an idealistic search for peace, or a Western-centric project reinforcing colonial/imperial statecraft?

Structure of the Unit (Main Themes)

1. Basic IR history and theories.

2. Global power constellations: established, rising, and emerging actors.

3. Security flashpoints—emphasis on the Indo-Pacific.

4. Australia’s external relations and strategic identity.

5. International organisations: United Nations, ASEAN, and others.

6. Non-state actors: social movements, terrorist networks, NGOs.

7. Non-traditional or human-security issues, notably environmental policy.

8. Practitioner insight: an Australian diplomat (UWA alumna) offers experiential reflections.

Lectures lead tutorials by one week; schedules are posted on the LMS. Students must consult the Unit Outline as their definitive guide to mechanics and pacing.

Assessment Overview

1. Tutorial participation and group presentation – $35\%$. Students must self-allocate to presentation teams; active attendance counts toward the grade.

2. Analytical exercise (in-class, Tutorial 10; Week 11 beginning $6\,\text{Oct}$) – $20\%$. Combines short-answer and multiple-choice items to test comprehension of lecture and tutorial content.

3. Research essay – $45\%$. Length: $2{,}000\,\text{words}\,(\pm10\%)$ (in-text citations included; reference list excluded). Due $20\,\text{Oct}\,2025$ at $23{:}59$ via LMS (Word or PDF). Strict adherence to APA 7th referencing and LMS rubric is mandatory.

Administrative and Study Logistics

• The LMS is the authoritative hub for unit announcements, schedules, readings, and rubrics.
• Second lecture occurs Wednesday, $2\text{–}3\,\text{pm}$.
• Tutorials commence next week; the first meeting is an ice-breaking session paired with a collective reading discussion on “defining current international relations”. Presentation groups will be finalised during these meetings.

Significance and Broader Connections

The unit underscores that IR knowledge is not merely academic; it informs policy, business strategy, environmental stewardship, humanitarian work, and citizen engagement. By tracing disciplinary debates, embracing interdisciplinary tools, and spotlighting both state and non-state dynamics, students gain a holistic analytical lens—one suited for navigating a world where power is diffuse, crises are transnational, and Australia’s prosperity and security are indelibly tied to global currents.