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Unit outline_

GOVT3993: Power

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Power is the essential concept of political science, which is the systematic study of politics. Bertrand Russell, perhaps the greatest mind of the 20th Century, said power is the central concept of all the social sciences. Students explore this concept in different parts of political science and survey some debates on power, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of concepts of power. There are three themes in this unit. The first is the distribution of power in society. The second is power in comparative politics and the third is power in international relations. The emphasis is on the nature, sources and use of power.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Politics or 12 credit points at 2000 level in International Relations or 12 senior credit points from Government and International Relations
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
GOVT3991
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Henry Maher, henry.maher@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Henry Maher, henry.maher@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Laura Welty, laura.welty@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
In-class participation
10% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Power analysis
Short essay
25% Week 05
Due date: 20 Mar 2023 at 23:59
1250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5
Assignment Short video and commentary
2 minute video (250 words) + written commentary (750 words)
25% Week 09
Due date: 24 Apr 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment Power application
Long essay
40% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59
2250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5

Assessment summary

  • Power analysis: Using Eda Gunaydin’s Root and Branch as a record of a political system in action, identify one specific example of each of the first, second and third ‘faces’ of power.
  • Video and commentary: Devise and create a two minute video that explores an aspect of political power and submit an accompanying commentary explaining your choice. 
  • Power application: Using the application of a theoretical approach to power, analyse a set of contemporary events involving political power. 

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 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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 Introduction: the agency vs structure problem and your positionality as a researcher. Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Who, if anyone, has power? Elite versus pluralist accounts Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Faces of power: Dahl, Bachrach and Baratz, and Lukes. Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Charisma and other types of authority Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Power and culture Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Post-structural approaches to power Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Feminism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Marxism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Public holiday - reading week Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Anarchism, resistance and hidden transcripts Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Power in movements Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Revolutions Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Power in international relations Lecture and tutorial (3 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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.
  • Required text: Eda Gunaydin’s Root and Branch.

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. critically evaluate and apply a range of theories, concepts, assumptions and arguments about power
  • LO2. work constructively and creatively with others to solve power-related problems
  • LO3. express complex ideas about political power clearly and succinctly
  • LO4. communicate ideas about power via new technologies
  • LO5. reflect critically on your current and future role in exercising and responding to power in local, national and international contexts.

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.

The unit's assessments and lectures have been refined since the last time they were offered, based upon student feedback.

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.