Studying at York
Democracy, Autocracy & the State - POL00063I
- Department: Politics and International Relations
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
Module aims
The module centres around the most recent research in political science to examines key debates in comparative politics from a new and exciting perspective. Using contemporary examples, students will have the opportunity to learn about the nature of modern states and state building practices around the world and discover key challenges to state power. The module then moves to discuss contemporary perspectives on democratisation in regional context, shedding light on some of the most important debates in the history of political science. Finally, the module goes beyond the current scholarship on democratisation to investigate authoritarian regimes using innovative research on electoral authoritarianism and autocratic governance.
Module learning outcomes
By completing this module, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major theoretical approaches to the study of state, democratisation and authoritarian governance;
- Be able to critically evaluate competing theories and formulate independent arguments;
- Be able to apply and theoretical concepts to real issues within world politics;
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of key concepts such as the state, regime type, political competition, etc.;
- Analyse how institutions and domestic processes within states affect governance, stability, and policy outcomes.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days after submission; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Ostrom, Elinor. (1991). Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. New York: Cambridge University Press: chs. 1-3 and 6.
Lijphart, A. (2012). Patterns of democracy: Government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. Yale University Press.
North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press.
O'Neil, P. H., & Rogowski, R. (2010). Essential readings in comparative politics. Chapters 1, 4, 5, 6, and 8.
Przeworski, Adam (2004), Institutions Matter? Government and Opposition 39, pp: 527-540.
Pierson, Paul (2004), Politics in Time: Politics in Time: History, Institutions, and Social Analysis, Princeton University Press.
Esping-Andersen, G ¶sta. (1990). The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, Princeton University Press.
Linz, Juan J. and Arturo Valenzuela, eds.(1994).The Failure of Presidential Democracy .Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. [Pages 3-90].