Skip to main content
Unit of study_

HSTY2677: Australia: Politics and Nation

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit examines the intersection between political culture and nationalism in Australia with particular attention to the question of when and if Australia became an independent nation. It examines the content and character of British race patriotism in Australia before 1945 and the gradual unravelling of this British myth in the postwar period. Among other issues the unit explores the end of White Australia, the rise of multiculturalism, engagement with Asia, Aboriginal reconciliation and republicanism.

Unit details and rules

Unit code HSTY2677
Academic unit History
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in History or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Ancient History
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ryan Cropp, ryan.cropp@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) James Curran, james.b.curran@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Ryan Cropp, ryan.cropp@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Tutorial participation
n/a
10% -
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Take-home Exam
n/a
30% Please select a valid week from the list below 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Short paper on research skills
n/a
20% Week 05
Due date: 10 Sep 2021 at 22:00
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Essay
n/a
40% Week 11
Due date: 29 Oct 2021 at 22:00
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. An explosive and pungent beginning; 2. The Australian political tradition Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 1. Britishness in Australia; 2. Socialisme sans doctrines Lecture (2 hr)  
Introduction: discussion of first assessment Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 03 1. The coming of White Australia; 2. Charles Henry Pearson's 'National Life and Character' Lecture (2 hr)  
A New Britannia Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 05 1. Australian liberalism; 2. WK Hancock's 'Australia' Lecture (2 hr)  
Professor of democracy Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 06 1. Conscription; 2. The Great Depression: Communism and the "New Guard" Lecture (2 hr)  
Ideology in Australian politics Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 07 1. Curtin: the pacifist as wartime leader; 2. Menzies and the forgotten people Lecture (2 hr)  
Discussing the essay Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 08 1. Abandoned Britons: end of empire; 2. Quiet trauma: the end of 'White Australia' Lecture (2 hr)  
Political leadership Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 09 1. New Nationalism; 2. God Save Australia's Fair Matilda Lecture (2 hr)  
Monoculture to multiculture Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 10 1. Forgetting and remembering Indigenous Australians; 2. An Australian Republic? Lecture (2 hr)  
The Unknown Nation? Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 11 1. Economic rationalism: Australia and the globalising impulse; 2. Keating, Howard and 'radical nationalism' Lecture (2 hr)  
The Great Australian silence Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 12 1. The Anzac Revival: Part One; 2. The Anzac Revival: Part Two Lecture (2 hr)  
Whither the Republic? Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 13 Reflections Lecture (2 hr)  
Sentimental Nationalism? Tutorial (1 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

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

  • LO1. develop expertise in 20th Century Australian history
  • LO2. critically think about the problem of nationalism
  • LO3. develop the ability to ask new questions about the Australian experience in a global context
  • LO4. develop research skills and essay writing.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.