The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was written in response to the atrocities of World War II. Since its ratification, the UDHR has been a 'roadmap' for peace, forming the basis for international responses to conflicts, poverty and disadvantage. This unit examines and critiques the concept of human rights. It will be shown how differentials of political and economic power between countries and groups within countries are used to prioritise and preference different rights so as to justify selective humanitarian efforts in the initial phases of peace-making and the policy requirements for peace-building in human social, economic and cultural development.

This unit critically examines the 'developed' and 'developing' world paradigm. Students will be introduced to theories and practicum examining development and underdevelopment within a contemporary political, economic and social framework.

This unit examines the processes of marginalisation and empowerment locally, nationally and globally. While the focus is on the marginalisation and empowerment of social groups, the ways in which social issues can be marginalised will also be discussed. Students will explore the role of social institutions, community organisations and inequities of power, wealth & opportunity, specifically in relation to the construction, development, organization, maintenance and amelioration of marginalisation, empowerment and self-determination of particular social groups.

In this unit we will explore the questions 'can we create a sustainable society? If so what would it look like and how could it be done; is it possible to live ethically with each other and the planet?' While major contemporary theoretical concepts will be explored the emphasis is on developing sustainable alternatives to the way we now live both locally and globally. Particular attention will be paid to thinking ecologically, postcolonial development and issues of race, gender.

In this unit we will explore contemporary non-violence at interpersonal, community and international levels. Informed by a politics of hope, the main theme is the nature of social change and how it might be directed towards a transition from violent to non-violent actions at all levels of society. Using real life examples we will explore the social processes and dynamics involved in such actions. We will ask: What does a transition to non-violence require of individuals, communities, organizations and nation states? What are the shifting experiences of the various people involved e.g. political elites, civil society groups and non-state actors? And how can we effectively support non-violent actions in multiple ways and in multiple locations?

The unit introduces the basic concepts relating to sustainability and development, and explores their relevance to real-world situation at the local, national, and global levels. The causes of unsustainability as well as their short-term and long-term effects on society and the environment will be evaluated. Students will analyse, using appropriate sustainability indicators and social change theories, a social change initiative (i.e., program, project, policy) designed to integrate the socio-economic, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainability within the context of a specific developmental focus (e.g. poverty alleviation, gender equality, human/social development, heritage conservation, biodiversity, tourism, green accounting, sustainable livelihoods). Students will engage in problem-based learning skills in order to critically analyse and discuss current issues in development, and provide solutions to sustainability.

The Peace & Development major is concerned with understanding and addressing inequities of power, wealth & opportunity that contribute to international and local conflicts and environmental degradation. In this capstone unit students will have the opportunity to consolidate their understanding, knowledge and skills of peace and development issues through planning, implementing and writing up individual or collective projects. Students will identify individual and collective actions that can be taken to improve conditions so that opportunities for peaceful, equitable & sustainable living are created locally & globally.

The concept of Peace is more than just an absence or cessation of conflict, but also the achievement of social justice and equitable standards of living. Humanitarian work/interventions in response to war and natural and human-made disasters that result in refugee crises are referred to as peace-making whilst the implementation of sustainable Community Development programs aimed at achieving the empowerment and improved standards of living for vulnerable groups is referred to as peace-building. This unit examines and critiques some of the strategies of peace-making and peace-building that have been adopted both within Australia and internationally.