Politics, Culture and Society Courses
Understand the events and movements that shape our world through politics, culture and society courses. Learn about elections, democracy, dictatorships, recessions, and revolutions. Examine the lives and decisions of leaders whose choices changed history.
Modern China - From Declining Empire to Global Power
Available Classes
Modern China - From Declining Empire to Global Power
<p>This course surveys China’s transformation from late Qing reforms at the turn of the 20th century to its rise as a global power at the beginning of the 21st. It examines historical shifts,
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The HALO Effect, Hagiography and Propaganda
Available Classes
The HALO Effect, Hagiography and Propaganda
<p>The "Halo Effect" refers to the considerable discrepancy between the romanticised legends about historical figures and what the actual evidence reveals. It can be difficult to separate the hype and
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Keith Suter Memorial Lecture 2026: Inventions, Ideas and Influencers
Available Classes
Keith Suter Memorial Lecture 2026: Inventions, Ideas and Influencers
<p>WEA Sydney warmly invites our members and the wider community to attend the inaugural <strong>Keith Suter Memorial Lecture</strong>, to be held on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. Join us from <strong>5:
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Welcome to Country
Available Classes
Welcome to Country
<p>Welcome to Country is a ceremony that’s been performed by First Nations people for thousands of years. In recent decades both Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country have become an
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Stanley Kubrick - A Visual Odyssey
Available Classes
Stanley Kubrick - A Visual Odyssey
<p>Stanley Kubrick is widely regarded - alongside Tarkovsky and Bergman - as one of the greatest film directors of the 20th century. A single frame from a Kubrick film is often instantly recognisable,
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Arabic Society and Culture
Available Classes
Arabic Society and Culture
<p>Explore the richness of Arab society and culture - from family life, food and hospitality to language, dress, music and dance. Discover traditions shaped both before and after Islam, and the
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Politics of the Death Penalty
Available Classes
Politics of the Death Penalty
<p>The death penalty has long been used as a tool of power, punishment and spectacle. This course explores executions across history, from rulers and rebels to ordinary criminals, examining how
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Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Available Classes
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
<p><em>"Why won't they say sorry"</em> - it's a cry that we've heard from childhood. What is it with apologies, and why do people seem so reluctant to give them? This course looks at the power of
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Discover the Hidden Stories Behind Your Wardrobe
Available Classes
Discover the Hidden Stories Behind Your Wardrobe
<p>Clothing carries stories of materials, labour, culture and environmental impact. This course explores where clothes come from, how fashion systems operate, and what garments reveal about identity
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Discover the Hidden Stories Behind Your Wardrobe
<p>Clothing carries stories of materials, labour, culture and environmental impact. This course explores where clothes come from, how fashion systems operate, and what garments reveal about identity
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The Middle East: A Clash of Religions?
Available Classes
The Middle East: A Clash of Religions?
<p>Religion continues to play a powerful—though often contested—role in the conflicts of the Middle East. Since ancient times, tensions involving Judaism, Islam, and Christianity have shaped struggles
...The Middle East: A Clash of Religions?
<p>Religion continues to play a powerful—though often contested—role in the conflicts of the Middle East. Since ancient times, tensions involving Judaism, Islam, and Christianity have shaped struggles
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