Subject Area: Politics
This course can also be studied in the following specialisation: Australian Studies; International Relations

Popular and media views identify the state and prosperity of Australia with the success or failure of the Prime Minister. But do prime ministers have as much power as is popularly conceived? To answer this question it is necessary to explore how much one individual can achieve when they are dependent on a political party, a cabinet, powerful interest groups, voters, the state of the economy and international relations. Events can present opportunities as well as difficulties for the prime minister. The course explores the style of leadership of each prime minister and how far each has changed or adapted to current political discourse. Most important is the study of the ‘dirty hands’ thesis: that one must dirty one’s hands to get anything done. There is the demand for principles in politics but also the push for pragmatism which can displease many.