How and why has democracy spread across the world? Is democracy important for citizens? How can international actors help encourage the spread of democracy? What does the history of democracy say about Australian history? This course will teach students about various aspects of democracy in a comparative and international context. We will read about the major theories concerning the modes of democratic transition and breakdown, the country-level and international factors that predict democracy, and the impact democracy has on policies and economic outcomes.

Each week will bring attention to a country case or set of cases that illustrate the theories. Students will also pick a specific country case to research and write about.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon completing this course, students should be able to:

1. Discuss essential facts on the spread of democracy across time, region, and economic conditions
2. Assess the major theories on modes of democratic transition and breakdown, the prediction of democracy, and the effects of democratic government based on empirical evidence and examples
3. Discuss a particular country case example and how it fits with broader theories of democracy with specific empirical knowledge
4. Analyze potential approaches to democracy promotion in light of the history of democracy
5. Place Australian democracy in a comparative context and discuss how Australia fits in with the major theories of democracy

Required Resources

Required reading will be posted on Wattle.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Verbal
• Written

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The information provided is a preliminary Class Outline. A finalised version will be available on Wattle and will be accessible after enrolling in this course. All updates, changes and further information will be uploaded on the course Wattle site and will not be updated on Programs and Courses throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Course Convenor.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Democracy: concepts and measures
2	Historical spread of democracy
3	Democratic transitions	Assignment 1
4	Democratic consolidation and breakdown
5	Economic development and democracy
6	Institutional design and democracy
7	Democracy, corruption, and clientelism	Assignment 2. News article report
8	Authoritarianism in the age of democracy
9	Elections and democracy
10	Populism and democracy	Assignment 3. Short essay
11	Problems of advanced democracies: Democracy in crisis?
12	The future of democracy Wrap up, exam preparation review

Tutorial Registration

Registration for tutorials is required. Please register via Wattle.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Assignment	15 %	12/03/2019	26/03/2019	3
Report on a news article	10 %	23/04/2019	07/05/2019	2, 3
Short Essay	15 %	14/05/2019	28/05/2019	2, 3
Tutorial participation	10 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Take-Home Exam	50 %	01/01/9999	01/01/9999	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Assignment

Each student will be expected to submit three assessments: assignment, report on a news article, and a short essay. The first assignment is DUE MARCH 12 at 1600. Details of the assignment will be available on Wattle starting 25 February. 

Value: 15%

Presentation requirements: submitted via Turnitin

Estimated return date: 26 March

Assessment Task 2

Report on a news article

For this assignment, please select a news article, briefly describe the event and discuss how it relates to something we have discussed in class. The report should be approximately 300-500 words. The report is DUE APRIL 23 at 1600. Details of the assignment will be available on Wattle starting 25 February. 

Word limit (where applicable): 500 words Value: 10%

Presentation requirements: submitted via Turnitin

Estimated return date: 7 May

Assessment Task 3

Short Essay

The essay is DUE 14 MAY AT 1600. You can choose from among three formats: a case study with the focus on how and/or why a particular country democratized, a critical synthesis of the literature on one of the topics discussed in class, or a book review. The essay will be approximately 1000-1250 words. It will be evaluated on the strength (and quality) of the research, as well as the clarity of the written expression and organization. It is an individual assignment and should be completed as such. While the essay can certainly cite newspapers, magazines, and websites, they should go beyond this to reference at least five (5) academic sources (i.e. books or journal articles). Details of the assignment will be available on Wattle starting 25 February. 

Word limit (where applicable): 1250

Value: 15%

Presentation requirements: submitted via Turnitin

Estimated return date: 28 May 

Assessment Task 4

Tutorial participation

Participation is a critical part of this course. In tutorials, students are expected to be active participants in the simulations. Mere attendance is not sufficient participation. An important part of your participation will be presentation of your short essay. Please also prepare a one-page handout of your presentation for the class with questions for discussion and a few presentation slides. If you email your handout to me in advance (by 3pm on the day BEFORE your presentation), I will make copies for the class. 

Assessment Task 5

Take-Home Exam

The course includes a take home exam. The final exam will include all materials (lectures and readings) covered during the course. The format will be 3/5 questions.

Value: 50%

Estimated return date: 2 weeks after the exam date or when the final marks are due 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request it in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date. 

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignment will be returned via Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Assignments may not be resubmitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students