Introductory description

Never before has the world witnessed such a high proportion of democracies. But what makes them emerge? How do democracies sustain themselves? What makes some countries such persistent dictatorships? These questions have attracted a huge body of literature in Comparative Politics and make for fascinating empirical research projects.

This module will introduce you to the evolution of democratisation theories, and provide an insight into the regional specificities of regime dynamics. You will then evaluate the applicability of a theory of democratisation in a 3000-word comparative research project.

Module aims

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.

1. The Comparative Method, Case Selection, and Research Design
2. What is Democracy?
3. Theories of Democratisation: The Role of Development
4. Theories of Democratisation: The Role of Culture
5. Theories of Democratisation: The Role of Unearned Income
6. (Reading Week)
7. Regional Focus: sub-Saharan Africa (Neopatrimonialism)
8. Regional Focus: Latin America (Agency Approaches)
9. Regional Focus: South East Asia (The Values Debate)
10. No Democratisation: Autocratic Survival

Learning outcomes

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

• Apply the comparative method to real-world scenarios
• Select cases for analysis in political science
• Design an independent research project
• Discuss different conceptualisations of democracy
• Understand different approaches to explaining democracy
• Apply a theory of democratisation to empirical data
• Evaluate regional specificities in democratisation

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Research element

Students are introduced to empirical research design throughout the module and will have to produce a summative assessment in the form of a research project.

Interdisciplinary

Democratisation theories have strong ties between Sociology, Political Science, and also History.

International

The module looks at global theories of democratisation, but also explored regional specificities of regime transitions in the second half of the module.

Subject specific skills

• Explanations of Regime Transitions
• Conceptualisation and Measurement
• The Comparative Method
• Empirical Research Design

Transferable skills

• The ability to conduct independent, empirical research
• The ability to apply the methods and techniques you have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply your knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects
• The transferable skills necessary for employment related to Politics and International Studies: lateral thinking; problem solving; detailed critical analysis and interpretation of a variety of primary and secondary sources; the ability to digest, retain and apply complex information and ideas; skills in research, independent study, group discussion, and in oral and written presentation; the ability to consider unfamiliar ideas and ways of thinking
• The skills necessary for the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility: e.g. the ability to assess your own capacity for progress in learning; the ability to organise your work and manage your time successfully; the ability to meet deadlines; the ability to reflect critically on the extent and limitations of how and what you have learned, discovered and understood
• The ability to deploy decision-making skills in complex and unpredictable situations
• Skills in the communication of information, ideas, problems and solutions in a variety of ways to a variety of audiences