Bachelor
2024/2025
Democracy and Democratization
Type:
Compulsory course
Area of studies:
International Relations
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
4 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Iryna Zhyrun
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
4
Course Syllabus
Abstract
In this course we will consider various aspects of the conditions of democracy, the processes of democratisation, and the breakdown of democratic regimes. This course will cover the following topics: 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 non-democracy 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 wn.
Learning Objectives
- In our study of democracy and democratisation we have 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.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- discuss why democracy has survived in wealthy countries
- 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 democratization, such as Moore and Rueschemeyer
- You should be able to: explain how democracy actually works in real-world conditions
- • explain how some forms of non-democracy can make the transition to democracy, assess theories of democratic breakdown in relatively poor countries and arguments for developmental dictatorship
Course Contents
- Defining and conceptualizing democracy
- Democracy and the State
- Non-democratic systems and the transition to democracy
- General theories of democratisation
- Threats to democracy, democratic breakdown and the prevention of the democratic breakdown
Assessment Elements
- Mock exam 1Written exam at the end of module 1
- Mock exam 2Written exam at the end of module 2
- Final oral exam
- Attendance
Interim Assessment
- 2024/2025 2nd module0.1 * Attendance + 0.1 * Attendance + 0.4 * Final oral exam + 0.2 * Mock exam 1 + 0.2 * Mock exam 2
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective : Conceptions, Conjunctures, Causes, and Consequences Møller, Jørgen; Skaaning, Svend-Erik Routledge 2012
- Democratization : Theory and Experience Whitehead, Laurence Oxford University Press, Incorporated 2002
- Schumpeter, J. Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. (London: Allen and Unwin, 1978) fifth edition [ISBN 9780043350324] Chapters 21 and 22
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Economou, E. M. N., & Kyriazis, N. C. (2019). Democracy and Economy : An Inseparable Relationship From Ancient Times to Today. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2174080
- Iversen, T., & Soskice, D. W. (2019). Democracy and Prosperity : Reinventing Capitalism Through a Turbulent Century. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1867653