Course description
Course outline
Democracy is the only type of political system most of us have experienced and we tend to assume that it is the most efficient and fair form of political system available to us. Indeed, there are many western politicians who argue that democracy is so self-evidently superior that we should export it to the rest of the world. But what is democracy? Do democratic states, wherever they are in the world, have more in common with each other than with their undemocratic neighbours? And who or what are the enemies of democracy? This course addresses these questions and is designed to introduce students to the comparative study of democracy and also to allow those with some experience of comparative politics to build on existing knowledge. We start by comparing democracies; reviewing different types of democracies and their structure; examining democracy in light of socioeconomic development, electoral systems, and political parties; and discussing the enemies and future of democracy.
Assessments
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100.00% | |
| Essay (2000 words) | Sumsch1 Week 4 | 60.00% |
| Report | Sumsch1 Week 4 | 20.00% |
| Presentation | Sumsch1 Week 4 (10 minutes) | 20.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.