Course syllabus

POLITICS 232/352
NEW ZEALAND PARTIES, LEADERS AND ELECTIONS

2017

Lecturer: Professor Raymond Miller
Email: rk.miller@auckland.ac.nz

Lecture: Monday 3-5 (Location: Law 801-316)

Tutorial times: Wednesday 3-4; 4-5

An examination of New Zealand’s political parties, leadership types and personalities, and election campaigns and outcomes, up to and including the 2017 campaign. Topics include: multi-partism, candidate selection methods, parties and the media, the controversy over party finance and campaign funding, the so-called "Americanisation" of modern electoral campaigns, and changing patterns of electoral participation and support.

Semester 2

15.0 points

Prerequisites:  30 points at Stage I in Political Studies or Politics and International Relations

Restrictions: Politics 352

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In essence, Politics 232/352 investigates three related areas of New Zealand and comparative politics: the evolving nature of political parties and the party system; political leadership, especially in relation to political management and change; and the impact of voting behaviour on parties and elections. The course will have a particular focus on recent events, especially those occurring during the 2014-17 election cycle. These include the electoral fortunes of the major and minor political parties, the impact of leadership on party popularity and direction, especially following the resignation as Prime Minister of John Key in December 2016.  If you are interested in the election victories of the National Party in 2008, 2011 and 2014, the role of National's support parties - the Māori, United Future and Act Parties - or the fate of the Labour/Green Party accord, this course will provide you with the historical, theoretical, and political dimensions to each of these issues. Since the focus of this course is political change in New Zealand, the Labour and National Parties are the subject of close attention, together with the most prominent of the small parties, the Green, New Zealand First, and Māori Parties. An institutional history of party politics in New Zealand is the subject of earlier lectures, followed by modules on voting and party systems theory.  Attention will then turn to the performances of the parties, political leaders and media in the run-up to polling days 2011 and 2014. The 2011 election is notable for the fact that it was held alongside a referendum on the New Zealand electoral system. The decision to retain MMP motivated a wide-scale review of the voting system, which itself was the subject of much political debate. Accordingly, another issue covered is the implication of the government’s decision not to adopt the recommendations of this review. The impact of political campaigns on voter behaviour in New Zealand, and those factors that influence voter choice in elections are discussed throughout the semester. During these lectures we will be looking at the results of the New Zealand Election Study surveys of voters and parliamentary candidates. Finally, the course will consider what the election of either a National-led or Labour-led government in 2017 is likely to mean for the country's political and policy agendas.

A Political Pastime. (Observer, 01 June 1895). Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/5064258 

AIMS OF THE COURSE

 This course has three main objectives:

1. To further your interest in the study of politics, especially comparative politics, with the New Zealand party system serving as our central case study.
2. As second and third year students, to help develop a body of information and understanding, as well as analytical skills that can be taken into professional careers (whether it be in law, commerce, engineering, advertising and public relations, elective politics, the public service, policy research, etcetera).
3. To sharpen our ability to critique current social and political issues. These judgments may inform our decisions as voters, participants in the policy-making and policy-implementation processes, and more generally as citizens.

HELP AND SUPPORT

For help with any of the requirements of the course, including tutorials and coursework, your first port of call would normally be your tutor or the course convenor. If you have any concerns about the lectures or your progress in the course please do not hesitate to contact Professor Miller by email, or by attending one of his office hours. He values feedback on the course and welcomes any comments and suggestions as to how he might make the learning process a more beneficial and enjoyable experience.

You are strongly encouraged to make use of the Student Learning Services and any courses provided by the Library. These facilities will help you with study skills, including researching a topic, writing a formal essay, and composing answers under exam or test conditions.

REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT

 To keep up with workload requirements, you are encouraged to regularly attend lectures, read the assigned textbook chapters and associated readings, and participate in discussion activities. The tutorials and discussion hours are designed to both extend your understanding of the lecture topics, and assist with the skills that will help you do well in this course. As with all undergraduate courses, it is expected that you devote approximately 10 hours each week to this course.

Apart from the textbook readings, assigned readings will be posted to Canvas/Talis or easily located through the library’s journal search feature. Announcements about lectures and tutorials will all be posted to Canvas and as such you are encouraged to check your messages regularly.

Because there is no plussage in this course, each and every mark will contribute to your final grade. While it is possible to pass the course without completing all assignments, your chance of achieving a high grade will be seriously jeopardised, especially if you fail to complete one of the major pieces.

Assigned text for POL 232/352:

R. Miller, Party Politics in New Zealand, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2005. This book will be supplemented by up-to-date readings on a number of the key topics.