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Module Catalogue

PO9B3-20 Democratisation and Development

Department
Politics & International Studies
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Renske Doorenspleet
Credit value
20
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

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Module web page

Module aims

To introduce students to key debates in the study of Democratisation and Development
To critically examine and illuminate the relationships between development and democratic change
To explore different conceptions of democracy and development, and to discuss the conceptual debates about the key terms
To understand different theoretical models, compare and analyse the models
To collect and analyse empirical evidence
To show how developmental factors can significantly influence democratisation and why these factors must be taken into account when assessing the prospects for democracy
To explore causality issues (development and democracy: the chicken-egg problem

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module focuses on core debates in the field of development and democratisation. It discusses a broad range of different regions and countries, theories and approaches, methods and techniques, concepts, political debates and policy implications. The module
overall is on balance directed more to democratisation than to development, but to the exclusion of neither. Participants are invited to specialise and where relevant may apply the general frameworks to any suitable countries in which they have a particular interest, in the North, South, East or West.

Theories of development have evolved over many years, influenced chiefly by the concerns of economics, political science and sociology. Since the late 1980s, when many countries in Eastern Europe and Africa democratized, a ‘wave’ or waves of democratisation have been a focal point of interest, especially in parts of the developing
world and former communist countries. This module explores the relationships – the interface - between development and democratisation, in the context of examining the many different meanings associated with the two central terms. Theories that maintain the two are causally connected in special ways are examined in the light of the evidence: how development influences democracy’s prospects, and democratisation’s significance, whether favourable or unfavourable, for development.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Knowledge how to appraise the prospects for democratisation in a variety of development situations
  • Demonstrate advanced empirical knowledge of at least one country, but preferably two countries, and relate/ apply this knowledge to one of the theoretical questions in the field of democracy and development
  • Recognize the different normative and theoretical assumptions/biases underpinning the debates around democracy and development
  • Develop practical skills in the retrieval and presentation of information, demonstrated in class presentations and essay
  • Develop skills in oral communication, demonstrated in class discussions and presentations. Developed skills in written communication, demonstrated in assessed essays
  • Develop participatory skills, exhibited in class work
  • Enhanced powers of critical analysis, tested by the normal assessment methods

Indicative reading list

  • T. Addison (2014), ‘Development’ in P. Burnell, V. Randall and L. Rakner (eds), Politics
    in the Developing World (fourth edition), chapter 16

  • T. Ambrosio (2010), ‘Constructing a framework of authoritarian diffusion: concepts,
    dynamics and future research’, International Studies Perspectives, Vol. 11, No. 4 (2010),
    pp. 375-92.

  • J.Bhagwati (2002), ‘Democracy and development: cruel dilemma or symbiotic
    relationship?, Review of Development Economics, Vol. 6, No. 2 (2002), pp. 151-62.

  • Bermeo,N. ‘Does electoral democracy boost economic equality?’, Journal of
    Democracy, Vol. 20, No. 4 (2009), pp. 21-35.

  • Burnell, P. and V. Randall and L. Rakner (eds), Politics in the Developing World (OUP
    paperback, fourth edition 2014).

  • D. Collier and S. Levitsky, 'Democracy with adjectives', World Politics (1997), pp. 430-

  • V. Desai and R. Potter, The Companion to Development Studies, (second edition) chapters 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.1, chapters 2.4, 2.12, 2.16, 4.1

  • L. Diamond (2011), ‘Why democracies survive – the 2008 economic crisis’, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 17-30.

  • L. Diamond (2012), ‘The coming wave’, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.5-11.

  • R. Doorenspleet (2004), ‘The structural context of recent transitions to democracy’, European Journal of Political Research, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2004), pp. 309-335.

  • R. Doorenspleet et al. (2008), ‘Against the odds: Deviant cases of democratization’ and ‘Upping the odds: deviant democracies and theories of democratization’, Democratization, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 697-713 and 815-31.

  • Doorenspleet, R. (2015) ‘Where Are the People? A Call for People-Centred Concepts and Measurements of Democracy’, Government and Opposition, 50(3), pp. 469–494.

  • A. Hadenius (ed.), Democracy's Victory and Crisis (chapter 9 by Przeworski and Limongi, 'Democracy and development', and chapter 10 by S. Bhalla, 'Freedom and economic growth; a virtuous cycle').

  • C. Haerpfer, P. Berhangen, R. Inglehart and C. Welzel (eds) (2009) Democratization , Oxford University Press

  • S. Haggard and R.R. Kaufman (2016). 'Democratization During the Third Wave', Annual Review of Political Science Vol. 19: 125-144.

  • Halperin, Morton, Joseph Siegle, Michael Weinstein (2010), The Democracy Advantage: How Democracies Promote Prosperity and Peace, Routledge

  • R. Kanbur, Economic policy, distribution and poverty: the nature of disagreements’, World Development, Vol. 29, No. 6 (2001), pp. 1083-94

  • I. Krastev (2011), ‘Paradoxes of the new authoritarianism’, Journal of Democracy , Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 5-16..

  • S. Levitsky and L. Way, ‘The Rise of competitive authoritarianism’, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 13, No. 2 (2002), pp. 51-65

  • W. Merkel (2010), ‘Are dictatorships returning? Revisiting the ‘”democratic rollback” hypothesis, Contemporary Politics, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 17-32

  • L. Morlino, ‘What is “good” democracy, ‘Democratization, vol. 11, No. 4 (2004), pp. 10-32.

  • S. Lipset (1994), 'The social requisites of democracy revisited', American Sociological Review, Vol.59, pp. 1-22.

  • L. Morlino, ‘What is “good” democracy, ‘Democratization, vol. 11, No. 4 (2004), pp. 10-32.

  • L. Nardulli (ed.), International Perspectives on Contemporary Democracy, chapter 5 ‘Western institutions and universal values’.

  • A Przeworski et al. (1996), 'What makes democracies endure?', Journal of Democracy, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp.39-55

  • M. Ross (2001), ‘Does oil hinder democracy?’, World Politics, Vol 53, pp. 325- (focusing on one particular alternative explanation)

  • A. Sen, 'Democracy as a Universal Value', Journal of Democracy, Vol. 10, No. 3 (1999), pp. 3-17.

  • A. Sen and S. Anand (2000), ‘Human development and economic sustainability’, World Development, Vol. 28, No. 12, pp. 2029-49

  • Joseph E. Stiglitz, Amartya Sen and Jean Paul Fitoussi (2011). Mis-Measuring Our Lives, New York: the New Press

  • Tsai, Ming-Chang (2006), ‘Does Political Democracy Enhance Human Development in Developing Countries?’, American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 233-68.

  • F.Zakaria, ‘The rise of illiberal democracy’, Foreign Affairs (1997), 76 (6) 22-43.

Subject specific skills

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Transferable skills

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Study time

Type Required
Seminars 9 sessions of 2 hours (9%)
Private study 182 hours (91%)
Total 200 hours

Private study description

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Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
5000 word essay 100% Yes (extension)

Assessment is by the standard pattern for MA/Diploma option modules, namely a research essay of 5,000 words. Students can either choose a title from the pre-approved essay title list at the end of this module document, or alternatively they can negotiate their own title
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

The students need to submit their research proposals (plan for the assessed essays) before the
reading week, and they will get individual feedback in week 9 or 10 of the module. In this way,
they are well-prepared to work on their assessed essay after week 10

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PX Double MA in Global Governance (with University of Waterloo, Canada)

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M1PA MA in International Politics and Europe
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9P9 Postgraduate Taught International Relations
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PC Postgraduate Taught International Security
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PS Postgraduate Taught Political and Legal Theory
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PF Postgraduate Taught Public Policy
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PQ Postgraduate Taught United States Foreign Policy

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PW Double MA in Politics and International Service (with American University, Washington DC)
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9PE Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with NTU Singapore)
  • TPOS-M9PP Double MA in Politics and International Studies (with Universität Konstanz, Germany)
    • Year 1 of M92B International Political Economy (Double Degree - Konstanz)
    • Year 1 of M92H Public Policy (Double Degree - Konstanz)
  • Year 1 of TPOS-M9Q1 Postgraduate Politics, Big Data and Quantitative Methods
  • Year 1 of TIMA-L981 Postgraduate Social Science Research