IREb2024 Electoral Observation Missions in the Contemporary World: A Tool of Democratization?

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Ing. Olga Švepešová Blaťáková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 21. 2. 10:00–13:40 U53, Mon 7. 3. 10:00–13:40 U53, Mon 21. 3. 10:00–13:40 U53, Mon 4. 4. 10:00–13:40 U53, Mon 25. 4. 10:00–13:40 U53, Mon 2. 5. 10:00–13:40 U53
Prerequisites
! IRE224 Electoral Observation Missions && !NOW( IRE224 Electoral Observation Missions )
This course focuses upon the phenomenon of international electoral observation missions which in the last thrity years evolved in a powerful system of monitoring and policy recommendations, and are often perceived as a tool to point out to non-democratic features of many contemporary political regimes. To grasp the phenomenon in its complexity, the course aspires to approach it both from historical and theoretical, and also from practical perspective. After setting up appropriate framework dealing up with the evolution, problems, and practices of democracy and democratization, the course will present a thorough analysis of the electoral observation mechanisms and actors. This knowledge will then, in the last part of the course, provide the basis for practical exercises in which the students will try to test their ability to analyze selected cases of elections, and will participate in simulations of real electoral observation missions.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 2/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course aspires to make the students familiar with the mechanisms and actors of the electoral observation missions, and to teach them to understand and analyze the theory and practices of the system of the international electoral observation.
Learning outcomes
After passing the course, the students will be able to understand the role of the elections in the contemporary world in general, and the specific procedures of the electoral observation missions in particular. They will learn how these missions are organized and conducted, and will become familiar with their successes and failures. Overall, the course would prepare them to successfully launch their careers in the sphere of electoral observation missions.
Syllabus
  • 1. Notion of Democracy – Developments, Understandings, Main Actors 2. Regime Change and Democratization 3. Workshop on democratization and regime change 4. Visiting Lecture: Election Observation and the Czech Republi 5. Introduction to Election Observation 6. Elections Observation from the Macro Perspective: Main Actors in the Field and Their Outreach 7. Role, Competences and Key Objectives of the EOM. Organizational Structure of the EOM. Tasks and Objectives of the Particular Mission Members 8. Deployment in the Field: How the Mission Works. Additional Activities and Tools to Support the Election Observation Activities and Their Impact III. Presentation of the Case Studies, Role Plays and Simulations. 9. Case Study 1 – Tunisia 10. Case Study 2 – Azerbaijan 11. Case Study 3 – Turkey 12. Simulation of the EOM deployment
Teaching methods
Lectures, simulations and workshops on selected topics.
Assessment methods
Case study 60% of grade Simulation participation 30% of grade Workshop participation 10% of grade 60% minimum to pass.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2022/IREb2024