This unit provides a comprehensive overview of the study of democratic theory and its translation into political practice from Plato and Aristotle to the twenty first century international context.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Analyse and advocate solutions to political and democratic problems in historical and contemporary international context;
2. Identify and investigate different political systems and forms of government; the nature and distribution of power in them; the social, economic and cultural contexts within which they operate; and the relationships between them;
3. Appraise and assess the nature of democratic government and consider why democracy has historically been regarded as the worst form of government to the contemporary elevation of democracy as the best form of government;
4. Comprehend and articulate how politics and democracy are mediated to stimulate and negotiate different interpretations of democratic issues and events; and
5. Gather, organise and deploy evidence to construct reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement using data, research and information from a variety of primary and secondary sources.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.