IR4002 - Democrats and Dictators

Weekly lectures will outline and discuss core concepts, theories and debates, as well as introducing relevant country examples. In this way, they will provide an opportunity for critical understanding of the material and critical reflection too. Seminars will follow a more student-led, workshop format. Building skills in information retrieval and analysis is central to the approach taken in seminars. Developing your confidence in synthesising, explaining and discussing information from a range of sources is also a key aim of the approach taken in this module.

The module is designed to foster your intellectual curiosity about the nature of political systems around the world and the debates about rule, accountability, representation and participation to which they give rise. You will be able to use your understanding of relevant concepts and theories to develop your own skills as an independent thinker and to inform your ability to reflect upon and discuss ‘real world’ cases and events. Particularly in seminars, there is an emphasis on creating a learning environment that gives you the opportunity to get to know your colleagues and hone your teamwork skills. In this way, the module seeks to develop a culture of peer support as well as support from the module tutor in the classroom and in designated office hours outside of it.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Appreciate how the nature of the political system, specifically the institutions of government and mechanisms of participation and representation such as the electoral system and party system affect the politics of rule, representation and accountability in democratic regimes.
2. Identify the main theoretical approaches to explaining democratisation; use these theories to ask pertinent questions and to discuss the success and failure of democratisation efforts in empirical cases.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. To collaborate with others to research, devise and present a case study that shows clear awareness of the need for well reasoned and supported argument.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. To have respect for the opinion of others and to listen and reflect when your own opinions are challenged.

A final, 2500 word essay will assess learning outcomes.

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Please find details of this module in the other sections provided.