Democracy constitutes one of the most important sets of ideas in today's world, in the international system no less than in its component states. This course examines what democracy and democratization can and do mean in theory and practice. It begins by looking at democracy in theory, in particular the entrenched idea of liberal democracy, and the currently popular model of deliberative democracy. Attention will then be paid to the sites in which democracy can be practiced, notably states, civil society, and international institutions. The focus will then shift to democratization as a process, in terms of both extension of liberal democracy to an ever-increasing number of countries and deepening of the democratic qualities of any political system. Democratization will therefore be examined not just as the acquisition of a basic set of institutions and the rule of law, but also in terms of the dispositions and practices of those who operate nominally democratic systems. Threats to democracy from religious fundamentalisms, US hegemony, ethnic nationalism, discourses of terror and counter-terror, and the rise of authoritarianism and surveillance will also be examined.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Understand what democracy and democratisation mean in both theory and practice
- Identify the core ideas of democracy, including liberal democracy, deliberative democracy and situate these ideas within world politics
- Critically evaluate how democracy is practiced across states, civil society and global institutions
- Communicate an understanding of democracy in world politics in a clear and concise way through assignments and class participation
Other Information
The course is conducted through seminars with an emphasis on interactive teaching aimed at engaging all students in active participation.
Indicative Assessment
- Please note that this assessment is indicative only. The actual assessment for the course is provided in the Class Summary prior to the commencement of the semester in which the course is being conducted and may differ from this assessment. (null) [LO null]
- Course Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Quiz (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Research Essay (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Final Exam (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
Approximately 130 hours comprising seminars as well as associated preparation, independent study, and assessment time.
Please note this is a general guide, averaged over the semester and the final hours ultimately depend on the individual's ability in reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
To be advised
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4050 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5760 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.