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Unit of study_
GOVT3664: Key Concepts in Political Thought
2026 unit information
What enables us as political animals to live together in political communities This unit examines key concepts underpinning our contemporary political life handed down to us through centuries of political thought; from the Athenian city-state to contemporary reflections on identity. Some of the concepts and problematiques explored may include: the state; sovereignty; the political; liberty; property; the citizen vs. the subject, reasons vs. the passions.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Government and International Relations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 2000 level in International Relations or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Politics or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Philosophy or 12 credit points at 2000 level in History and Philosophy of Science or 12 credit points at 2000 or 3000-level from Government and International Relations |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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GOVT2616 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Analyse and critique works of political theory on key concepts such as freedom, virtue, justice, equality, and the common good.
- LO2. Develop deep, reflective reading skills in relation to primary texts in political theory.
- LO3. Demonstrate how political theory can illuminate aspects of contemporary life.
- LO4. Build the capability to engage constructively and deliberatively with different perspectives on key concepts in political thought.
- LO5. Develop and articulate compelling normative arguments.
Unit availability
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The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2026
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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There are no availabilities for previous years.
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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