Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2014-2015 (archived)

Module SGIA2321: DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA2321: DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY

Type Open Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2014/15 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Any Level 1 SGIA module

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • to enable students to gain more detailed knowledge of the development, condition and prospects of democracy.
  • to enable students to engage with relevant theoretical literature in the study of political behaviour and the democratic state
  • to provide a basis of theory and conceptualization for the further study of democratic politics at level 3

Content

  • Concepts, theories and illustrative discussion of:
  • the state, political economy and economic management
  • the contextual preconditions of democracy: modernization, political culture, social capital, etc.
  • parties and voting behaviour
  • political participation: interest groups, social movements and identity politics
  • problems and prospects of democracy: the media, political extremism

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • the nature and development of democracy in contemporary political settings
  • explanatory theory and descriptive typologies of democracy and its preconditions
  • the contested nature of the definition and description of democracy
  • current controversies in the study of democratic political behaviour and the history and prospects of these scholarly debates
Subject-specific Skills:
  • apply theoretical, conceptual and critical analytical frameworks from the discipline of politics to concrete examples
  • evaluate rival theories and interpretations from the discipline of politics with reference to factual evidence
  • appreciate the contested nature of the understanding of political phenomena
Key Skills:
  • retrieve and utilize in written form resources they have been directed to
  • assess the suitability and quality of resources for research purposes
  • review, reinforce and integrate their knowledge independently in preparation for an examination
  • demonstrate these and the above acquisitions in written form under pressure of time and without supporting materials

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Teaching will take the form of 16 substantive lectures plus one concluding lecture in addition to 8 substantive tutorials plus one introductory meeting. The lectures provide the spine of the module content. Tutorials will incorporate formatively assessed presentations and class discussion, helping consolidate knowledge and developing argumentative and critical ability. Formative essays will provide practice in the organization of material acquired through lectures, tutorials and research in response to a specific question. The examination will promote the ability to organize learned material independently and to bring it to bear in answers to specific questions under time constraint.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 22 Weekly 1 hour 22
Tutorials 10 Fortnightly 1 hour 10
Module-specific office hours 18 spread over the year ½ hour 9
Preparation and Reading 159
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
unseen written examination 2 hours 100% August

Formative Assessment:

Two essays and one seminar presentation per year.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University