POLn4005 Theory and Practice of Democratization

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. Jan Čambora (deputy)
Lenka Homolková, E.MA (lecturer)
Mgr. Jonáš Syrovátka (lecturer)
Mgr. Patrik Taufar, MA, E.MA, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 12:00–13:40 U41
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! POL502 Democratization && !NOW( POL502 Democratization )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The subject is focused on the theory of democratization. Its primary objective is to acquaint students with the basic theories with the phenomenon of so-called democratization. In view of this intention, the subject focuses on classical theory of revolutions, on theory of modernization, the problems of transitions to democracy, so-called democracy promotion, and, finally, the range of models of outputs from these processes, ranging from the consolidation of democracy through semi-democratization or hybridization to the reconfiguration of non-democracy. At the end of the course the students are acquainted with current trends in the concept of democratization. The subject is based, inter alia, on the works of D. Berg-Schlosser, V. Bunce, L. Diamonda, J. Grugel, Ch. Haerpfer, S. P. Huntington, J. J. Linz, A. Schedler, J. Teorell, Ch. Welzel and many others.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students should be able to: - understand and explain the issues connected to phenomenons of transitions to consolidated democracy, democratization and semi-democratic/hybrid regimes; - distinguish among outputs from separate types of non-democracies; - apply the theory of democratization to the concrete examples of political regimes; - consider the situation of concrete political regime in the relationship to its phase of democratization. Graduates of the subject will be able to apply the theoretical categories in the current situation and context, the subject has an overlap to other innovated subjects, the practical use will be found by the graduate, eg in the field of Czech foreign policy, development cooperation, political analysis.
Syllabus
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Reading week
  • 3.Classical concepts of revolution
  • 4.Theory of modernization
  • 5.Theory of transition
  • 6.Democracy promotion
  • 7.Theory of democratic consolidation
  • 8.Theory of semi-democratic and hybrid regimes
  • 9.Theory of democratization and human rights studies
  • 10.Theory of democratization and elections
  • 11.Current lecture on democratization: color revolutions and so called Arabian Spring
  • 12.Contemporary Trends in the theory of democratization and methodology of their research
  • 13.Test
Literature
    required literature
  • Stepan, A. - Linz, J. J.: Democratization Theory and the „Arab Spring“. Journal of Democracy. 2013, Vol. 24, pp. 15-30.
  • HAERPFER, Christian W. Democratization. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009, xxviii, 42. ISBN 9780199233021. URL info
  • HUNTINGTON, Samuel P. Třetí vlna : demokratizace na sklonku dvacátého století. Translated by Tomáš Suchomel. 1. vyd. Brno: CDK (Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury), 2008, 343 s. ISBN 9788073251567. info
  • Democratization : the state of the art. Edited by Dirk Berg-Schlosser. 2nd rev. ed. Opladen: Barbara Budrich, 2007, 187 s. ISBN 9783866491021. info
  • Electoral authoritarianism. Edited by Andreas Schedler. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2006, ix, 267. ISBN 1588264408. URL info
  • GRUGEL, Jean. Democratization : a critical introduction. 1st pub. Houndmills: Palgrave, 2002, xiii, 273. ISBN 0333679695. URL info
    recommended literature
  • Wiechnik, S. J.: Tracking Democratization: Insights for Planners, Journal of Democracy, .47/1, Spring 2017
  • Fukuyama, F.: Why Is Democracy Performing So Poorly?, Journal of Democracy, 26/1, 2015.
  • Wetzel, Anne and Orbie, Jan: The EU’s Promotion of External Democracy: In search of the plot, CEPS Policy Brief No. 281, 13 September 2012
Teaching methods
theoretical preparation, lectures, seminary essay
Assessment methods
1) Five essays and seminary paper in the run of the semester with the topic: case study of some example of transition to democracy - at least 40% points; 2) Written test, at least 60 % points.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
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