Unit of study_

GOVT3671: Australian Foreign and Security Policy

2026 unit information

This unit examines Australia's foreign and security policies since federation, with a focus on contemporary issues. Firstly, the unit provides a broad introduction to Australian foreign and security policy since Federation, the policy making machinery of government, the contexts in which policy is made, and the main schools of IR theory and concepts that can be applied to conceptually analyse it. Secondly, this unit grows the student's knowledge of Australia's role in the world, with a particular emphasis on its relations with its most significant neighbours in the Indo-Pacific region.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Arts and Social Sciences

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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GOVT2116 or GOVT2106
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate general knowledge of Australian foreign policy since federation
  • LO2. demonstrate a basic understanding of how Australian foreign and security policy is conceived, influenced, and implemented
  • LO3. use the main theoretical frameworks that are relevant to Australian foreign policy
  • LO4. demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationship between Australia and the global economy
  • LO5. demonstrate a good understanding of Australia's regional and global affairs
  • LO6. understand and discuss contemporary issues in Australian foreign and security policy
  • LO7. demonstrate a good understanding of Australia's relationship with its allies, trade partners, and neighbouring nations
  • LO8. understand and discuss Australia's current and future challenges
  • LO9. engage in undergraduate research of both theoretical and empirical nature
  • LO10. demonstrate improved essay-writing skills according to the unit's instructions.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

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.

There are no availabilities for this year.
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2026
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Remote

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

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