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Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PL30468: Transitions to democracy

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 33%, ES 67%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
To understand the "third wave" of transitions to democracy which began in the last quarter of the 20th century by examining the general scholarly literature on this subject and the experience of a number of individual countries in four different regions of the world (Southern Europe, Latin America, East-Central Europe, the former USSR); to develop skills in comparative political analysis and seminar techniques.

Learning Outcomes:
Students who complete the unit successfully will be able to demonstrate:
* a clear grasp of the key issues in democratization in each region;
* familiarity with theoretical arguments surrounding "third wave" transitions;
* the ability to critically evaluate these arguments by reference to national and cross-regional case studies.

Skills:
Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit.

Content:
The unit will begin with a lecture introducing the "third wave" and a discussion of the nature of democracy to establish criteria. This will be followed by lectures on theories of transition, the debate over structure and agency, the significance of external influences and the role of civil society. Introductory lectures on the four regions will be followed by seminar case-studies of individual countries presented by students, each focusing on an aspect of transition highlighted by the experience of the country concerned. The countries and themes chosen will vary from time to time but at present are: Spain - the importance of agency and pacts; Greece - the role of the military; Argentina - neoliberal economic policies; Colombia - illiberal democracy; Venezuela - populism and democracy; Cuba - external pressure for democracy; Poland - civil society; Hungary - political parties and society; Ukraine - institutions; Georgia - political culture. The unit will end with a general discussion, after which students will write an essay comparing an aspect of transition in at least two different regions.
Key texts: S. Huntington The Third Wave. Democratization in the Late 20th Century (1991); D. Potter et al (eds) Democratization (1997).
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PL30468 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Economics
  • UHES-AFB02 : BSc (hons) Economics and International Development (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHES-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Economics and International Development (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHES-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Economics and Politics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHES-AKB01 : BSc (hons) Economics and Politics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA (hons) French and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA (hons) German and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA (hons) Italian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB14 : BA (hons) Italian and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB08 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and ab initio Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB09 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and ab initio Russian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB05 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and German) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB04 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB03 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and Russian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB18 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and Spanish) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB06 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and ab initio Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB07 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and ab initio Russian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB02 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB01 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and Russian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB23 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and Spanish) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB20 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (Spanish and ab initio Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB22 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (Spanish and ab initio Russian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB19 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (Spanish and Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB21 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (Spanish and Russian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA (hons) Russian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB11 : BA (hons) Russian and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA (hons) Spanish and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Politics with Economics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AAB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • UHPL-AFB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHPL-AKB29 : BSc (hons) Politics with International Relations (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Social Policy and Administration (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB01 : BSc (hons) Social Policy and Administration (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc (hons) Social Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Sociology (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc (hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UHSP-AFB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UHSP-AKB11 : BSc (hons) Sociology with Human Resource Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.