MODULE SPECIFICATION KEY FACTS Module name Advanced Topics in Comparative Politics Module code IP2033 School School of Arts and Social Sciences Department or equivalent International Politics UK credits 15 ECTS 7.5 Level 5 Delivery location N/A (partnership programmes only) MODULE SUMMARY Module outline and aims What drives the formation of states? Why are some countries becoming democratic while democracy is failing in others? How has the influence of business groups, labour organizations, and social movements evolved in recent decades? How has globalization reshaped state and market institutions in different countries? When do social protests, civil unrest and revolutions emerge and when do they succeed? Are certain type of regimes and institutional designs more likely than other in generating certain social and/or economic outputs? Building on IP1031 Comparing Political Systems and other Year 1 core modules, in this module you will engage with a number of contemporary debates in the field of comparative politics. This module, in turn, will provide you with the additional preparation you need to engage successfully with politics in the countries and regions covered by the elective modules in Year 2 and 3 of your degree. Content outline The themes that you will cover in this module, include the following: - State formation, national movements, war and trade. - Democracy, authoritarianism, dictatorships, democratisation patterns/trajectories - Party and electoral systems, and alternative modes of political participation
- Popular mobilisation and political conflict: social movements, political protest, riots, revolutions, civil war (a case in point here will be the Arab Spring). - The role of culture in politics - The role of economic transitions in politics WHAT WILL I BE EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE? On successful completion of this module, you will be expected to be able to: Knowledge and understanding: Identify the processes that are involved in the formation of states. Compare and contrast the impact that different political and electoral systems have on political outcomes and modes of citizen political participation. Discuss the factors that determine alternative trajectories to democratisation. Analyse when and why political conflict turns from non-violent to violent. Critically evaluate the role that culture, ethnicity, religion and economics has on political systems and outcomes. Skills: Define, use, and criticise abstract concepts in politics/comparative politics and use them with rigour and consistency when studying contemporary issues of relevance to this field. Communicate ideas clearly and effectively, both in writing and orally. Take and support a position and make use of different tools in politics/comparative politics to form logical arguments. Values and attitudes: Show respect and engage with those who do not share your own political values. Produce written materials that indicate in a precise and honest manner what your own work is and what is attributable to others. Reflect on and manage effectively your own learning and make use of constructive feedback. HOW WILL I LEARN? Acquisition of knowledge and understanding is promoted through a combination of lectures and interactive sessions (seminars/tutorials) with a strong emphasis on your personal contribution, including if appropriate in the form of student presentations, class exercises, simulations/role plays. This learning process is supported by the use of a wide range of information sources, from books and journal articles to online sources, official documents and audio-visual sources of information. Time will also be set aside (weekly) to answer questions you may have from the readings.
You are expected to undertake extensive reading and independent study in order to: (1) understand the topics covered in the course; (2) broaden and deepen your knowledge of the subject; (3) participate actively in the class discussions. You will receive feedback on your coursework to encourage you to reflect on what you have produced and how you can improve. Teaching pattern: Teaching component Teaching type Contact (scheduled) Self-directed study (independent) Placement Lecture Lecture 10 40 50 Interactive Seminar 10 90 100 sessions Totals 20 130 150 Total student learning WHAT TYPES OF ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK CAN I EXPECT? You will be assessed through: - One 2,000-words essay. - One 1,500-words essay (eg comparative policy report) pattern: component Essay (2,000 words) Essay eg comparative policy report (1,500 words) type Written Assignment, including essay Written Assignment, including essay Weighting Minimum qualifying mark Pass/Fail? 60% 30 N/A 40% 30 N/A criteria Criteria are descriptions of the skills, knowledge or attributes you need to demonstrate in order to complete an assessment successfully and Grade-Related Criteria are descriptions of the skills, knowledge or attributes you need to demonstrate
to achieve a certain grade or mark in an assessment. Criteria and Grade- Related Criteria for module assessments will be made available to you prior to an assessment taking place. More information will be available from the module leader. Feedback on assessment Following an assessment, you will be given your mark and feedback in line with the Regulations and Policy. More information on the timing and type of feedback that will be provided for each assessment will be available from the module leader. Regulations The Pass mark for the module is 40%. Any minimum qualifying marks for specific assessments are listed in the table above. The weighting of the different components can also be found above. The Programme Specification contains information on what happens if you fail an assessment component or the module. INDICATIVE READING LIST Boix, Carles and Susan C. Stokes, eds. Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. Caramani, Daniele. Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013 (3 rd edition). Clark, William Roberts, Matt Golder and S. Nadenichek Golder, Principles of Comparative Politics. CQ Press, 2013. Gerring, John. Social Science Methodology: A Critical Framework. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Hague, R. and Martin H. Comparative government and politics: an introduction. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Landman, Todd. Issues and methods in comparative politics: an introduction. London: Routledge, 2013. O'Neil, P.H. Essentials of comparative politics. WW Norton & Company, 2015 (5 th edition). Powell, G. Bingham, Russell Jr. Dalton and Kaare Strom. Comparative Politics Today: a Worldview. Pearson, 2015 (11 th edition). Samuels, David J. eds. Case Studies in Comparative Politics. Pearson, 2013. Svolik, Milan W. The Politics of Authoritarian Rule, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Version: 1.0 Version date: January 2016 For use from: 2016-2017 Appendix: see http://www.hesa.ac.uk/component/option,com_studrec/task,show_file/itemid,233/mnl,12 051/href,JACS3.html/ for the full list of JACS codes and descriptions CODES HESA Cost Centre Description Price Group 128 Politics and International D Studies JACS Code Description Percentage (%) L200 Politics 40 L260 Comparative Politics 40 L210 Political Theories 20