Module Identifier IP30220  
Module Title COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Lucy F A Taylor  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Course delivery Lecture   16 Hours (16 x 1 hour)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   8 Hours (8 x 1 hour)  
Assessment Semester Exam   2 Hours   60%  
  Semester Assessment   Essay:   40%  
  Supplementary Exam   Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics.    

Learning outcomes

On completion of the modules, students will be able to:
- critically assess democracy as an idea and as a working political system.
- assess the different approaches to understanding the process of democratisation
- describe and analyse the key factors, agents, historical trends and structural dynamics which influence the transition to and consolidation of democracy
- critically discuss the possibility and desirability of democratic political regimes at diverse levels and in diverse cultural contexts, as well as the quality of democracy in established democratic regimes

Brief description

This module provides an analytical foundation to the critical study of democracy through the application of comparative analytical techniques.

Aims

This module aims to bridge the gap between the empirical and the normative elements by focusing upon the principles, properties, policies and challenges of democracy in the varied context of the post war world.

Content

After discussing the definition and measurement of democracy, the course examines theoretical approaches to democratization. It then applies these theories to four cases: Spain, Argentina; Poland; South Africa. The module goes on to discuss political problems of transition (human rights, political leadership and parties) and economic problems (structural adjustment and wealth distribution). Then, the module debates whether liberal democracy is universally applicable (Confucianism & Islam) and discusses the impact of globalization on democracy. Finally it critically examines the quality of democracy in established cases such as UK and USA.

Transferable skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of transferable skills which will help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas. Throughout the course, students should practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills, as well as basic numeracy skills and self management skills. In lectures students will develop listening and note taking skills, as well as analytical skills. In seminars students will enhance their analytical skills and will practice listening, explaining and debating skills, as well as team work and problem solving. Essay writing will encourage students to practice their independent research, writing and IT skills, and the examination will test these skills under time constraint conditions.

10 ECTS credits

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
David Held (ed). Democratization.
Jean Grugel. Democratization: A Critical Introduction.