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Unit of study_
INGS2604: Global Superpowers
2025 unit information
This unit of study examines the ideas and ideological assumptions that have shaped and account for the rise and demise of great powers in global politics over the last two centuries. Focusing either on the United States, Russia or China, it explores how the leading politicians and policymakers in those countries have thought about the relationship between economic heft and strategic weight, power and its projection, and the dilemma of under-extension and over-investment. The unit gives special attention to the historical and socio-cultural forces shaping the beliefs great powers, and especially the ongoing power of national mythologies in shaping contemporary policies.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | History |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 1000 level in International and Global Studies or History |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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HSTY2611 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Propose arguments about America’s role in world affairs from the American revolution to the present.
- LO2. Analyse different types of sources of evidence to support arguments about American foreign policy.
- LO3. Evaluate the central approaches by which scholars have written about and interpreted America’s role in world affairs.
- LO4. Construct and defend a position about an area of American foreign policy using appropriate and well-structured forms.
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.
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
