The Struggle for Democracy
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| POLI3127 | Politics and International Relations | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- POLI3127
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
At the dawn of the 21st century, the status of democracy across the world is uncertain. In Central and Eastern Europe, it has become the only game in town, but in other regions like Russia or the Arab World it has suffered reversals. To make sense of these events, this module examines and is structured around some of the big, important questions that have long interested political scientists around the questions of democracy. What is democracy? Why are some countries democratic and others not? How did democracy emerge in different countries? What difference does democracy make for people’s lives? The module adopts a global and comparative perspective, by focusing on countries in specific regions and by studying different data sets on the design, functioning and influence of democratic institutions.
Target Students
Available to Final Year UG students in the School of Politics and International Relations on single and joint honours plans. Also available to Final Year 4 UG students on the Liberal Arts plan, Final Year UG students on the Philosophy, Politics and Economics plan, Final Year UG students on the Modern European Studies plan, and incoming exchange students based in the School of Politics and International Relations.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment
- 20% Presentation: Presentation
- 80% Coursework: 3,500-word essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
1. To introduce students to a variety of theoretical perspectives on democratic and authoritarian regimes and their empirical manifestation.2. To introduce students to debates surrounding the economic and cultural pre-requisites of democracy.3. To introduce students to the different models of democratization (liberalisation, transition, consolidation) and their empirical manifestation.4. To introduce students to the influence of democracy on different facets of development, like public sector size, conflict regulation and wealth redistribution.5. To encourage students to think broadly and critically about the possibility of democracy in different parts of the world, the difficulties of crafting democratic regimes.6. To invite students to reflect on the role of structures and actors in the emergence, stability and consolidation of democratic regimes.7. To invite students to consider the merits of different methodological tools (qualitative and quantitative) for studying different facets of democratic development.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• define, measure and compare institutional arrangement of democratic and authoritarian regimes
• comprehend the politics of the different stages of democratization;
• understand the economic and political models that explain decisions to democratize;
• assess how institutions and party systems shape the prospects for democracy;
• appreciate what conditions drive democratic backsliding in established democracies;
• demonstrate knowledge of democratization processes in different areas (Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa).
Intellectual and Transferable Skills
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• read, understand and evaluate the scientific literature on democratization;
• offer a critical overview of approaches to democratization, consolidation and backsliding;
• reflect on the role of structures and actors in the emergence and consolidation of democracy;
• use political science methods, including qualitative comparative analysis and quantitative analysis;
• apply theoretical frameworks to empirical evidence;
• critically analyse and disseminate information;
• construct reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement.
Practical and Professional Skills
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• collect, organise, analyse and deploy evidence from a variety of secondary and primary sources;
• conduct independent research;
• make critical and reflective use of information and communications technology;
• present work in written and oral form;
• appreciate the importance of working to tight deadline;
• recognise the importance of explicit referencing and the ethical requirements of study;
• demonstrate initiative, self-organisation and time-management attributes.
Digital Competencies
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
• communicate digitally and use shared productivity tools;
• work effectively across cultural, social and linguistic boundaries;
• participate in learning dialogues via digital media;
• use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information;
• where appropriate, do this with statistical or numerical information;
• use digital media to learn and to present the outcomes of learning;
• demonstrate a critical approach to the provenance, relevance, value and credibility of information;
• use digital evidence to solve problems and answer questions;
• participate in and benefit from digital learning opportunities;
• manage digital workload.