国際日本研究特論XXXIX

April 10: Introduction to Australian History [Online Class] What are some of the main ways in which Australia has changed over time? April 17: 1788—Contact between First Nations peoples and British colonial settlers How did Australia’s original peoples live? What did the British invasion and settlement of Australia mean for those First Nations peoples? April 24: 1856—The birth of democracy in Australia How did the colonies that later became the Australian states become some of the first democracies in the modern world? May 1: 1901—The White Australia Policy Why were Australian politicians so determined to make Australia a ‘white’ society? What consequences did this decision have for the development of Australia? May 8: 1904—The World’s first ‘labour’ party government Why did trade unions form the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the 1890s? Why was it such a successful party, winning national government soon afterwards? What impact has the ALP had on Australia? May 15: No class May 22: 1915—World War I and the Australian ‘digger’ legend Why did Australian military forces participate in World War I? How did that participation help create an Australian national identity? Who was excluded from this national mythology? May 29: 1942-- World War II and Australia’s changing relations with Britain, the USA, and Asia How did World War II shift Australia’s attention away from Britain to the USA? How did it affect Australia’s relations with Japan and the rest of Asia? June 5: 1973—The opening of the Sydney Opera House How did Australia become home to a world-renowned piece of public architecture? What impact has the Sydney Opera House had on Australia’s cultural development and its place in the world? June 12: 1975—The Whitlam government, the British monarchy and republicanism Why is the Whitlam government considered so important, even though it only lasted from 1972 to 1975? Why was Prime Minister Whitlam dismissed by the Queen’s representative in 1975? Why didn’t this led to Australia becoming a republic? June 19: 1978—Multicultural Australia becomes established government policy Why did Australian governments shift from the White Australia Policy to a multicultural policy in the decade leading to 1978? What impact has multiculturalism had on Australia? June 26: 1985—‘Handing back’ Uluru and the future of First Nations-settler relations Why have Australian governments ‘handed back’ Uluru and other sacred sites and lands to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? What difference has this process made to relations between First Nations peoples and other Australians? July 3: 2000— The Sydney Olympics and Australian national identity What image of the Australian nation did the 2000 Sydney Olympics project to the world? How similar and different was this image from the image projected by the Melbourne Olympic Games 44 years earlier? July 10: 2024—Conclusion: Australia’s Past and Present How have key events in Australian history shaped Australian society today? Note on taking questions from students: I am very happy to take questions from students during and after each of the course meetings.

The first class in this course on April 10 will be an online introductory lecture setting out an overview of the course, with an opportunity for questions. The other 12 classes will consist of face-to-face classroom lectures delivering content on each topic in the course, supported by individual and group learning activities in the classroom, including interactive discussions. The required reading for the course is designed to introduce students to major developments in Australian history and the way that these have affected Australia today. The readings are a mix of academic texts, journalistic texts, and informative interactive web pages. The readings have mostly been kept short. Students are required to prepare for class by reading or viewing the material for each week before class. The lectures and other class activities will build on these readings/materials and there will be opportunities to ask questions about them. Further materials will be provided in each class to help students understand unfamiliar terms and to suggest additional reading for the assessment tasks.

The two assessment tasks are designed to measure understanding of the course materials and topics. The tasks are also designed to encourage progressive development of writing in English. Students must write all assessment tasks in their own words (except where they are quoting sources) and not use generative AI tools to help with their assignments. Where students use sources to help them with their assignments, these must be properly referenced using either Harvard in-text references or footnotes. A bibliography/reference list must be provided at the end of each assignment. Assessment tasks 1. Short case study. The short case study will analyse one of the events covered in the first half of the course. The word length is 400-500 words. Responses must be written in the students’ own words. Due: June 6. Worth 30%. Further information will be made available during the Semester. 2. Topical essay. A more developed essay on changes to Australia since World War 2. The word length is 1500-1600 words. Responses must be written in the students’ own words, except where students quote and reference other sources. Due: Exam period. Worth: 70%. Further information will be made available during the Semester.

There is no textbook to buy for this course. Digital links to the required reading for each week will be provided to students. Other materials and links will be provided throughout the Semester. There are many good general and specific histories of Australia available via the University of Tokyo Libraries, especially the Center for Pacific and American Studies Library in Building 14. The call numbers for these books all start with 994.

Martin Crotty and David Andrew Roberts, Turning Points in Australian History, Sydney, UNSW Press, 2009. James Curran and Stuart Ward, The Unknown Nation: Australia after Empire, Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 2010. Ian Hoskins, Australia and the Pacific: A History, Sydney, NewSouth, 2021. Mark Peel and Christina Twomey, A History of Australia, Houndmills, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011. Rachel Perkins and Marcia Langton (eds.) First Australians: An Illustrated History, Melbourne, Miegunyah Press, 2008.

The course is taught in English and all required readings and materials are in English. Students will be expected to read, write and speak in English, with learning and further development of these skills a key aim. Students must prepare for each class by doing the required reading before the class. Students are expected to attend classes and participate in discussions and other class activities. Opportunities for participation will be shared fairly among all students. There will be plenty of opportunities for student feedback and suggestions throughout the course and students will be expected to take advantage of these opportunities. Participating in this course does not require any prior knowledge about Australia, Australian Studies or any previous study of history. The course will provide an introduction to Australian history via a survey of some key events, their causes and their impact.

Online Resources Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/***** Resources about Australia’s First Nations peoples. Australian Screen https://aso.gov.au/***** Film clips about events and themes in Australian history, society and politics. National Library of Australia (NLA) https://www.nla.gov.au/***** Online guide to the NLA’s resources on Australian history. National Museum of Australia http://www.nma.gov.au/***** Learning resources and digital exhibitions on Australian history, society and politics.