Political Science

This course examines the foundations of geopolitics as a discipline and the main theoretical-methodological approaches of geopolitical studies. Topics include: global geopolitical theories and systems--from imperialist to Cold War geopolitics; geopolitical issues in the contemporary world-- the post-Cold War era and the multi-polar world; geopolitical approaches to conflict-- cultures, natural resources, and the state system. 

Administration is the study of administrative operations and management. It is a very important part of government operations; government operations largely rely on administrators and the administrative system to operate stably. The course covers various theories of administration; the structure and characteristics of the administrative department; the input and output of administrative operations (such as personnel administration, financial administration, and public policy, etc.), and the relationship between the administrative department and other departments (including political with administrative relations, governance, with non-profit organizations, etc.). This course also tries to bring in relevant practical cases so that students can understand theory.

This course examines the subjects of political leadership and executive government theoretically, methodologically and comparatively. Theoretically, it covers the trajectory of the major approaches to the study of leaders and executives that includes institutionalism, feminism and rational choice theory. Methodologically, it covers different quantitative and qualitative methods that can be employed to address research questions pertaining to leaders and executives. It also looks at leaders and executives comparatively by assessing the leadership and executive experience geographically and institutionally. Additional topics to be addressed may include political communication, non-elected leaders (e.g. advisors and judges) and the executive experience at sub and supranational levels of government.

This course applies theories of comparative and international political economy to important issues of current and historical concern. Current issues include the politics of rising income and wealth inequality; debates over redistribution via welfare and taxation in a changing global economy; the politics of international trade in democracies and non-democracies; the impact of globalization and growth on the global environment and the politics of climate protection; the impact of the rise of China and other emerging countries on policy, politics and institutions in advanced countries; the politics of monetary and exchange rate management; the political causes of financial instability and the policy and political consequences of financial crises; and the changing nature of institutions and governance in the global political economy. 

This course focuses on the values and ideologies that underpin social policy and public policy in New Zealand. Students examine the economic, political, and institutional arrangements within New Zealand which impact upon policy development and implementation.

This course examines the norms and methods of writing administrative documents. The course is divided into 6 modules: (1) the connotation of administrative document writing; (2) the theme and material of administrative document; (3) the format and structure of administrative document; (4) the applicable language and rhetoric of administrative document; (5) the administrative document rules and procedures; (6) various types of administrative document writing. 

This course examines Australian politics from a historical perspective. It explores the foundation and working of democracy, the formation and transformation of the party system, and the relationship of politics to broader changes in society. The first part follows a chronological structure, beginning with traditional Indigenous government and extending through the colonial era to the present day, while the second examines a range of themes such as federation, nationalism and republicanism, women, gender and politics, rural politics, Indigenous politics and the media.