Democracy and democratisation

Описание мероприятия

Описание программы

This course considers various aspects of the conditions of democracy, the processes of democratisation, and the breakdown of democratic regimes.

The study of democracy and democratisation has three main aims. These are to consider:

• how democracy is defined and understood, and how far actual systems conform to democratic principles
• the main explanations of why political systems have moved from nondemocracy to democracy
• whether or not democracy is a stable political system, and whether democratic systems run any serious risk of breakdown.

Assessment

This course is assessed by a three-hour unseen written examination.

Учебный план:

This course considers various aspects of the conditions of democracy, the processes of democratisation, and the breakdown of democratic regimes.

Conceptualising democracy. General criteria for democracy, and particular forms of semi-democracy. Delegative democracy, illiberal democracy and biased states. Democratic consolidation.

Process of democratisation. Paths to democracy. Comparative historical studies.

Conditions of Democracy and its maintenance. The concept of democratic legitimacy and the functioning of liberal democracy in advanced capitalist societies.

Transitions to Democracy. Forms of nondemocracy and transitional paths towards democratisation.

Democratic breakdown and reconstruction. Mass society theories and theories of class conflict. Modernisation theory and later criticisms. Democracy and war. Democratic reconstruction and its problems.

A range of countries will be examined in relation to these themes from Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Результат обучения:

At the end of this course and having completed the essential reading and activities students should be able to discuss critically a range of issues relating to democratisation. Students should be able to:

• explain how democracy actually works in real world conditions
• explain how democracy relates to the non-elective institutions of the state
• discuss different ways in which democracy can work badly
• outline the essential arguments of comparative historical sociologists of democratisation, such as Moore and Rueschemeyer
• explain how some forms of nondemocracy can make the transition to democracy
• assess theories of democratic breakdown in relatively poor countries and arguments for developmental dictatorship
• discuss why democracy has survived in wealthy countries.

Требования к поступающим:

If taken as part of a BSc degree, courses which must be passed before this course may be attempted:

• PS1172 Introduction to political science or
• PS1114 Democratic politics and the State or
• PS1130 Introduction to modern political thought.