Australian History Modules
Australian History Modules taught in 2011
Australia: History and Nation
This course offers a general introduction to Australian history in an international context. It places considerable emphasis on the history of indigenous Australians, race relations and the public memory of frontier history. The course covers indigenous history prior to British settlement in 1788, then moves to the establishment of the British colonies in Australia, before discussing the frontier wars, the emergence of responsible government in the mid nineteenth century, federation in 1901, and the nation building of the twentieth century. The course will explore some of the key themes in Australian history: war and remembrance, myths of nationhood, the White Australia policy, the recent movement for an Australian republic and the ongoing controversies surrounding the history of indigenous-settler relations.
Australia: The Search for a Foundational History
Since British settlement in 1788, various histories have been put forward as the moment when the Australian nation was ‘founded’ – British settlement and the establishment of a penal colony, the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901 and more recently, the Anzac military legend. Why have Australians embraced these stories at different points in their history? Why has Australia’s frontier history unsettled the establishment of a founding history? Why is contemporary Australia so divided about its past?
This course provides students with a critical understanding of the historical and political forces that have shaped the discussion of Australian history in the late twentieth century. The course is designed to examine Australian history through the prism of recent debates in Australia around the concept of a foundational history. Subjects of discussion include, the history of the idea of Australia as a country ‘without history’, the legacy of convict history, the absence of revolution in Australian history, federation and its centenary in 2001, the Anzac 'resurgence' of recent decades and its relationship with public debate concerning frontier history, first contact histories (including recent historical fiction), and Labor/Liberal attempts to assert foundational pasts). The course seeks to stimulate a greater interest in Australian history by examining the presence of the past in the present. It is concerned with the way in which foundational histories are asserted within social memory and political culture and how these have changed over time .
Modules taught in 2010
Australians at War
The focus of this subject is Australia’s involvement in the major wars of the 20th century: WWI, WWII, Vietnam. It concludes with a brief consideration of Australia’s developing role as 'peacekeepers' in conflict zones, most notably in East Timor. We will consider the reasons for Australia’s involvement in the major wars, the changing nature of the relationship with Britain and the US, and the impact Australia’s position in Asia has had on its military engagements. We will ask questions about the relationships between gender, race, war and nationalism. We will explore the ways wartime experiences changed conceptions of gender and how the configuration of gender relations shaped the execution of wars. We will look at the aftermath of war and its affect on those who fought and those who didn’t and examine the ways in which the memory of war has shaped subsequent generations, even the conduct of war itself. Where appropriate we will connect with the substantial Irish literature on war memory and national identity.
Australian Environmental History
Australia now leads the world in mammalian extinction while the forces of climate change and human impact on the land pose serious threats to the continent’s fragile ecology. This subject will consider the devastating impact of colonisation on the land, how colonists shaped and used the environment, and changed it. How, in turn, has the environment shaped humans? It will consider Australia as part of a global environment, the growing awareness of 'global citizenship', the role of the environment in international relations, and Australia’s participation in the global environmental movement.
