Unit Overview
- Description
This unit examines the role of energy in international politics, equipping students to analyse how energy shapes and is shaped by politics, development, conflict and the transition to a low-carbon world. The unit is structured in three parts. The first part offers a historical perspective on the hydrocarbon economy, tracing the rise of coal during the industrial revolution, the neo-colonial arrangements that shaped early twentieth-century oil production and distribution, and the shift in global energy governance marked by the OPEC crisis of the 1970s. The second part surveys core debates in the global politics of energy, including the resource curse and resource wars, competing conceptions of energy security, resource nationalism and its implications for development. The third part turns to energy and decarbonisation in the twenty-first century, assessing the geopolitics of renewables, the promise and pitfalls of low-carbon technologies, and the politics of critical mineral value chains. Key case studies include oil and conflict in the Middle East, China's pursuit of energy security and renewable technologies, and natural gas and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 2 UWA (Perth) On-campus -
The timetable for this teaching period is not currently available. Please see the Important Dates page for the timetable release date and other key date information.
- Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 option in the Political Science and International Relations; Human Rights; International Relations major sequences
- Level 3 option in the 3 Option Units specialisation in the Philosophy, Politics and Economics major sequence
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) explain and engage critically with the key concepts, theoretical frameworks and terminology associated with the global politics of energy; (2) analyse the roles of key state, non-state and institutional actors in the global politics of energy; (3) identify and compare competing explanations for shifts in energy politics, including the assumptions underpinning them; and (4) communicate analysis of contemporary issues of energy politics clearly in written and oral form.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tutorial preparation and participation; (2) analytical assignment; and (3) exam. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Imogen Liu
- Unit rules
- Contact hours
- 3 hours per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.