Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC3131: The Revival of Global Authoritarianism

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

Module Aims

This module aims to equip you with the conceptual and theoretical tools necessary for understanding the rise of authoritarian governance and how it is sustained. It will familiarise you with the latest research on authoritarianism and encourage you to develop a critical perspective in analysing existing research on authoritarianism. You will be exposed to a variety of methodological approaches and challenges in research on authoritarianism and provided with an understanding of how both historical and international factors affect the forms and practices of domestic authoritarian governance. You will be able to explore these concepts and theories in a wide range of geographical cases, from the Middle East to the post-Soviet region, from one-party states, such as China, to established democracies, like the UK and USA. The assessment also features a policy briefing, which is intended to enable you to develop your writing for a policy audience.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate understanding of the domestic and international factors that drive and sustain authoritarian politics 2. Demonstrate a command of the main findings research on authoritarianism 3. Critically evaluate the main approaches to the study of authoritarianism
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Critically employ the categories and concepts of Comparative Politics to a range of empirical cases 5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing research 6. Conduct rigorous, independent analysis using a variety of relevant sources
Personal and Key Skills	7. Evidence effective writing styles that are required in the job market 8. Construct a reasoned and logical argument supported by evidence 9. Work independently and with peers to achieve goals

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Group Presentation (in class or online)	15 minutes	1-6, 8-9	Oral

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Policy Briefing	40	1,500 words	1-9	Written
Research Essay	60	3,000 words	1-6, 8-9	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Policy Briefing	Policy Briefing (1,500 words)	1-9	August/September reassessment period
Research Essay	Research Essay (3,000 words)	1-6, 8-9	August/September reassessment period