BSS174 Transitions to Democracy in a Comparative Perspective

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Óscar Hidalgo-Redondo, M.Phil. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Timetable
each even Tuesday 16:00–19:30 U41; and Tue 24. 2. 16:00–19:30 Aula
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The goal of the course is to introduce students to the study of the processes of democratisation in a comparative way. This course analyses the historical processes of democratisation that have occurred in different societies and in different historical times. This is a course designed to describe and compare the processes of democratisation that have taken place in different parts of the world and to analyse similarities and differences between them developing a holistic understanding of transitions to democracy.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course: Concepts of Democracy
  • . 2. Democratic Transitions: Types, Actors and Patterns
  • . 3. The Long Democratic Cycle: Liberalisation and Democratization
  • . 4. Restoring Democracies: The Post-WWII Democratising Experiences
  • . 5. The Development of the “Transitology”: Classic Transition to Democracy in the 1970 and 1980s
  • . 6. Communism Collapsing and the Total Transitions
  • . 7. A Democratising World? Prospects for Democratization in the New Millennium
  • . 8. - 12: Case studies.
Literature
  • Extended valid list of literature is in the IS (study materials)
  • LINZ, Juan J. and Alfred C. STEPAN. Problems of democratic transition and consolidation : southern Europe, South America, and post-communist Europe. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, xx, 479. ISBN 0801851580. URL info
  • HUNTINGTON, Samuel P. The third wave : democratization in the late twentieth century. 1st print. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1993, xvii, 366. ISBN 0-8061-2346-X. info
  • O'DONNELL, Guillermo and Philippe C. SCHMITTER. Transition from authoritarian rule : tentative conclusions about uncertain democracies. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1986, xii, 81. ISBN 0801826829. info
Assessment methods
1. Class participation is required: sessions will take place every two weeks and will last 3 hours. Students that will not be able to attend the class will have to notify in advance their absence. 2. Students are expected to read the required reading(s) for each seminar. If there is more than one article or book chapter, students are expected to read all of them. 3. Students are encouraged to actively participate in the classes by posing questions of clarification or bringing up problems for discussion. One part of the final evaluation is class participation and the lack of attendance or non-active participation will result in a low grade. 4. Students are expected to write one long essay on one of the topics that will be proposed by the lecturer in a list published in the first or second session. Deadlines and essay requirements will be handed in conjunction to the list of topics. 5. Students will also have to write a minimum of two class tests (reaction papers) in which they will have to apply the contents of class lectures to practical situations. 6. Every student in the class is expected to make a small presentation leading into a discussion that will take place at the end of every session. 7. There will be a final in-class written exam, consisting of questions based on class lectures, readings and discussions in class. 8. All the papers produced by the students will have to follow the standards of academic correction and integrity. References and bibliography list must be exhaustive and cases of plagiarism will be accepted (plagiarism will be punish with an F in the final evaluation). Grading The final grade will be calculated as a composite evaluation consisting of three parts: 1) Class Participation 35% 2) Long essay 25% 3) Final Exam 40% Class Participation: This part of the evaluation will consist in three different elements; class tests, class presentation and class participation on a daily basis. Students will have to write at least two class tests (delivered during the class and to be completed within the class or to be handed at the beginning of the next session). The role of these papers is not so much to test memorisation but to show the capacity of the students applying concepts explained in the class to more practical situations. Every student in the class will have to make a short class presentation. With the class presentation students will test their skills to communicate in an academic environment. There will be one presentation assigned to students in each of the sessions with the exception of the introductory class. Participation on a daily basis refers to the attitude of the students in the class. Willingness to engage will be rewarded; on the contrary, reluctance to participate or disruptive attitudes (lack of punctuality, chatting...) will result in a low grade. Long essay: Every student will have to write a long essay. The topics, deadlines and requirements will be set in the first or second session. The paper will have to be written according to the standards of academic correction and the deadlines will be strictly enforced (a late paper will result in an F grade). Final Exam: At the end of the semester, there will be final written exam. The exam will be divided into two parts. The first part will be short essay questions and the second one will be a text commentary. Grading scale: 56-60: A 51-55: B 46-50: C 41-45: D 36-40: E 0-35: F Workload: At least two class tests (300-600 words each) One long essay (from 3000 to 4000 words) Class readings (max. 100 pages per session)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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