Handbook

How to start a revolution and change the world? In a world of growing inequality, environmental pollution, and conflict this question seems more important than ever. In this course, you examine this question from a Politics and International Relations perspective, examining processes of, and the actors involved in, political change. From the #metoo movement, to Black Lives Matter, to the Alt Right, to the Arab spring protests and Occupy and Indignado movements: all around the world citizens are mobilising, some because they want political change, others because they want to maintain the status quo. What is change? Why do some people want radical and others moderate change? What explains the success of advocates for non-change, i.e. the status quo? What kind of change do political actors seek to achieve? In this course you will further explore these questions comparing processes of political change and actors involved in generating political change in Australia and other countries around the world. You will learn about the role of power, legitimacy, and insider and outsider positions in making political change work (or not). You will leave this course with a better understanding of what political change is, how it can be achieved, and what your own role can be in changing the world.