Introduction to New Zealand Politics and Policy

Description

This course takes political analysis up close and personal, using theories and ideas about politics and political processes to better understand one of the world’s smallest and oldest democracies, New Zealand.

Political science is often described as a study of the way power is exercised in a collective struggle to achieve social goals. This course introduces students to the study of political power in the context of New Zealand. In the course you are introduced to the art, craft and passion of politics as a process of establishing our visions of the good life, and tackling difficult common problems as a democratic polis or political community. This course is then an introduction to both New Zealand government and how to conduct applied political analysis. The course aims to help students new to the study of politics, to understand both the democratic framework of New Zealand government, and how to ask deeper, probing questions about what is going on, what kind of society do we want to live in, and why? How can we achieve this collectively? At what cost (social, economic, environmental), for whom?

In 2013 there is a special focus on issues concerning young voters and debates about intergenerational equity in New Zealand political processes, asset sales and opportunities for a new political economy after the Christchurch quakes.