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:

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. analyse potential approaches to democracy promotion in light of the history of democracy; and
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.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

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.

Required readings for the course and other information will appear on Wattle.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction, course overview, and regime type
2	Concepts and Measures
3	Historical Spread and Support for Democracy
4	Democratic transitions, consolidation, backsliding and breakdown	Assignment 1.
5	Economic development and regime type
6	Institutional design and regime type
7	Elections and Regime Type
8	Populism and Regime Type	Assignment 2. News article report
9	Regime type and Environmental Protection
10	Pandemic and Regime Type
11	International Institutions and Regime Type
12	Course Wrap Up, Review and Q&A session	Assignment 3. Short essay

Tutorial Registration

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 .

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Assignment 1	25 %	18/08/2023	01/09/2022	1,3,5
Report on a news article	25 %	22/09/2022	06/10/2022	2, 3, 5
Final Essay	40 %	27/10/2022	10/11/2022	1,2, 3,4, 5
Participation	10 %	*	*	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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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.

Participation

Participation is a critical part of POLS2126. Students are expected to come to the lectures and participate during the class discussions. In tutorial, students are expected to have done the readings and be active participants in the discussions guided by the Tutor. Mere attendance in the tutorials is not sufficient participation.

Value: 10%

Assessment Task 1

Assignment 1

Each student will be expected to submit three assessments: assignment, report on a news article, and a short essay. Details of the assignment will be available on Wattle.

The first assessment will ask students to compare different measures of democracy and apply them to (a) Australia and (b) one country of their choice.

Value: 25%

Presentation requirements: submitted via Turnitin

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. Please Wattle for more details of the assignment will be available on Wattle.

Value: 25%

Presentation requirements: submitted via Turnitin

Assessment Task 3

Final Essay

You can choose from among three formats: a case study with the focus on how and/or why a particular country democratised, a critical synthesis of the literature on one of the topics discussed in class, or a book review. The essay will be evaluated on the strength (and quality) of the research, as well as the clarity of the written expression and organisation. 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.

Value: 40%

Presentation requirements: submitted via Turnitin

Assessment Task 4

Participation

Participation is a critical part of POLS2126. Students are expected to come to the lectures and participate during the class discussions. In tutorial, students are expected to have done the readings and be active participants in the discussions guided by the Tutor. Mere attendance in the tutorials is not sufficient participation.

Value: 10%

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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) 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

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

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. Extensions may be granted 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 Access 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