Module ARA3107 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
ARA3107: Politics of Semi-democratic and Authoritarian Countries
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce you to, and familiarize you with, the politics of semi-democratic authoritarian countries. You will not only study the different types of authoritarian regimes but also learn about their internal politics, popular resistance, and mechanisms that regime leaders employ to prevent democratisation.
This module also allows you to develop your critical analysis skills as well as your ability to communicate with others through module assignments, presentations, and class participation. These skills are important for employment in any field and sector.
If you complete this module, you will also have a more informed understanding of politics in general and your ability to analyse political news will have been enhanced.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. define and describe the different types of semi-democratic, authoritarian, and hybrid regimes and their characteristics in a competent manner; 2. effectively explain the internal politics of semi-democratic and authoritarian regimes, especially the various methods these regimes use to gain legitimacy; 3. discuss cogently the typical challenges to authoritarian rule and what current scholarly knowledge predicts with regard to their success; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Demonstrate the ability to effectively synthesize knowledge gained from both theoretical and empirical material; 5. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate research on relevant topics; 6. Demonstrate the ability to formulate scholarly arguments and ideas regarding politics; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with peers and to convey ideas to an audience; 8. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse texts and to competently offer own ideas and interpretation of texts; and 9. Demonstrate the ability to write cogently and to support ideas with logical argument and evidence. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Introduction: types of authoritarian regimes (i.e. military rule, sultanistic rule, one-party, personalist rule); hybrid regimes; origins of authoritarianism
Internal politics of semi-democratic/authoritarian regimes: political economy of authoritarianism; elections under authoritarianism; redistribution, patronage, and welfare politics; informal institutions and civil society; Islam and authoritarianism
Legitimisation of rule: public goods provision; repression and order
Challenges to authoritarian rule: popular resistance; diffusion and breakdown; regime durability and collapse; transitions to democracy; authoritarian upgrading; succession and the transfer of power
Conclusion: discussion of contemporary movements for democratization; characteristics of authoritarian versus democratic regimes
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 44 | 22 x 2 hour seminars. You will need to complete all readings prior to seminar and be ready to participate. On some occasions you will be asked to make presentations. |
| Guided independent study | 256 | Reading and research; completing assignments; preparing for assessments. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
