MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: UPPNFE-30-1 Title: Democracies or Dictatorships? Version: 2
Level: 1 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: standard
Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: Politics
Faculty Committee approval: VARC Date: 13th May 2009
Approved for Delivery by: ( indicate name of affiliated institution if module will only be delivered by them)
Valid from: October 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: |
Awards up to BA (Hons) |
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Entry requirements:
(If the module is offered as CPD or stand alone, indicate the entry requirements)
Excluded combinations: UPPNFA-30-1 (Democracy and Dictatorship)
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:
1. a knowledge of a range of political systems (assessed in all component A and B2/ B3)
2. an understanding of core political concepts such as democracy and dictatorship (assessed in all components and elements)
3. an ability to develop the skills of comparative analysis (assessed in all component A and B2/ B3)
4. an ability to gather information from a variety of sources (assessed in all components and elements)
5. an ability to substantiate arguments with reference to appropriate academic materials (assessed in all components and elements)
6. the beginnings of an ability to express ideas clearly in a variety of forms (assessed in all components and elements)
Syllabus outline:
The module will consist of four sections. The first section will be entitled ‘Introduction to key concepts and themes’ in which students will be provided with a set of conceptual themes, providing the basis for comparative analysis. This will include topics such as; regime types (e.g. what is a democracy? What is a dictatorship?), forms of political participation, forms of political communication, the separation of powers.
The remaining three sections will be presented as Case Studies. Following the themes established in section one, students will be introduced to the political systems of the UK, plus two other states. These will be drawn from examples such as; the United States of America, Russia, China, etc.
Teaching and learning methods:
Teaching will follow a lecture/seminar format. A weekly lecture will introduce the central themes of each topic for discussion. Weekly seminars will take a variety of forms, including student-led discussion, structured debate and skills development exercises.
Reading Strategy
Students will be expected to buy one textbook for essential reading. A series of further readings will also be provided either in a reader or in digitised form. A reading list will appear in the module handbook. In the module handbook each seminar topic will be accompanied by a reading guide. A stock of books for further reading will be available in the short loan collection, as well as in the library more generally. There will also be use of online texts.
Formal opportunities for students to start to develop their library and information skills are provided within the module.
Indicative Reading List: (see guidance notes)
The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.
Brown, A., ed. Contemporary Russian Politics: a reader, Oxford University Press, 2001
Caramani, D., ed. Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, 2008
Hague, R. and M. Harrop, Comparative government and politics : an introduction (6th ed), Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
Held, D Models of Democracy, 3rd ed, Polity Press, 2006
Kavanagh, D. et al., British Politics (5th ed), Oxford University Press, 2006
McAuley, M. Soviet Politics, 1917-91, Oxford University Press, 1992
McKeever, R and P Davies, Politics USA, 2nd ed, Pearson Education, 2006
M. Moran, Politics and governance in the UK, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005
Singh, R.,ed. Governing America: the politics of a divided democracy, Oxford University Press, 2003
Suny, R. The Soviet Experiment, Oxford University Press, 1998
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 40% B: 60%
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Exam (2 hours) 40%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
Two of three of the following:
1. Essay skills exercise (2,000 words) 30%
2. Essay (2,000 words) 30%
3. Essay 2,000 words) 30%
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Exam (2 hours) 40%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Comparative essay (3,500 words) 60%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes not required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)