Course syllabus

Week

Date

Topic

Reading

W1

Part I: Introduction & Overview – What is ‘Politics’ and Why it Matters

19 July

Introduction to Course: Why Politics Matters

20 July

What is the Study of Politics?

Miller, Chapter 1

Jesson, B. To build a Nation (Canvas)

Suggested

Bell, C. Where am I? Invention and Mythmaking (Canvas)

Part II: New Zealand Context: Treaty, Constitution and Political History

W2

26 July

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Mulholland, M, The Treaty of Waitangi. (Canvas)

Sharp, A. The Treaty in the Real Life of the Constitution. (Canvas)

27 July

Constitution

Miller, Chapter 3

W3

2 August

Early NZ Political History –      Post-War-1984

Miller, Chapter 2

Gustafson, B. New Zealand Politics in the Postwar to 1984 (Canvas)

McAloon, NZ Since the War (Canvas)

Suggested

Phillips, J. History of Immigration, (Canvas)

3 August

Seismic Political Shifts -  

1984-2000s

Aimer & Miller, New Zealand Politics in the 1990s (Canvas)

James, C. The Policy revolution, 1984-92 (Canvas)

Part III: New Zealand’s Electoral System & Government

W4

9 August

Westminster System

Miller, Chapter 4

10 August

Creating the Electorates

“From a Privilege to a Right-1870-1890" In Neill Atkinson (2003) Adventures in Democracy. Otago Uni press pp. 53-80. (Canvas)

Supplementary Reading

 “Liberals, Feminists and Wowsers 1890-1908" In Atkinson, pp 81-114. (Canvas)

W5

16 August

Party System

Miller, Chapter 8

17 August

TEST

W6

In Tutorial

Essay Proposals Due

23 August

Electoral Reform, MMP and the Referendum

Miller, Chapter 5

Arseneau, T and Roberst, N. The MMP Electoral System. (Canvas)

Suggested

Lundberg & Miller, Democracy and Representation: Mass-Elite Opinion and the MMP Review. (Canvas)

Nagel, J. How many parties will New Zealand have under MMP? (Canvas)

24 August

Role of an MP

Gillon, G and Miller, R. Role of an MP. (Canvas)

MID-SEMESTER BREAK (25 August – 10 September)

W7

13 September

Political Participation: Voting and Beyond

Miller, Chapter 10

Vowles, J. Down, Down Down: Turnout from 1946 to 2011. (Canvas)

14 September

Cabinet and Coalition Formation

Miller, Chapter 6

Boston, J. Government formation in New Zealand under MMP: Theory and practice. (Canvas)

Miller, Minority Government in New Zealand. (Canvas)

Part IV: Processes of Government

W8

20 September

Participatory Policy Making

Arnstein, S. A Ladder of Citizen Participation (Canvas)

21 September

Machinery of Government/Bureaucracy

Shaw, R. The Public Sector. (Canvas)

Part V: Political Participation and Parties

W9

27 September

Major Parties (National/Labour)

Miller, Chapter 8

Aimer, P. The Labour Party. (Canvas)

James, C. The National Party. (Canvas)

28 September

Minor/Micro Parties and Social Movements

Edwards, B. The Micro parties. (Canvas)

Tenbensel, T. Interest Groups. (Canvas)

Recommended

Miller & Curtin, Counting the Costs of Coalition: The case of New Zealand’s small parties. (Canvas)

Miller, Chapter 8 (review)

28 September

ESSAY DUE by 5:00 pm

W10

4 October

Media Politics in New Zealand

 Craig, G. Performing Politics: Leaders' Debates in the 2017 Election. (Canvas)

Timperley, C. Jacinda Ardern: A Political Presence. (Canvas)

Part VI: 2017 Election Examined

5 October

Campaigns, political marketing and media – 2017 Election

Lees-Marshment, J. (Canvas)

W11

11 October

The 2017 Election

Levine, S. Stardust and Substance: NZ's 2017 Election. (Canvas)

Vowles, J. Surprise, surprise: The New Zealand general election of 2017 (Canvas)

12 October

Maori Seats and Representation

Miller, Chapter 9

Godfery, M. Did the Maori Electorates Decide the Election? (Canvas)

Suggested

Godfery, M. The Maori Party. (Canvas)

Joseph, P. The Maori Seats in Parliament. (Canvas)

Part VII: Summary and Exam Review

W12

18 October

Careers in Politics and Policy

No Reading

19 October

Wrap-up and Exam Review

Miller, Chapter 11

Recommended

Harris, M. "People Power" in The New Zealand Project. (Canvas)