Module description
Throughout the world, there are increasing challenges to democracy as the order of governance. The political landscapes are being re-drawn, and new parties and movements are commonplace. This raises questions about the possibility of democratic representation, and whether current forms of politics are legitimate. This has led academic and public debates to focus on the shortcomings of contemporary democratic systems. Do people feel represented by politicians? Why do some groups resort to violence? Are there non-violent means to change the political situation? In the aftermath of the financial crisis in southern Europe and Latin America, is there space for political change? Which are the main challenges to the liberal democratic order?
*Please note that module information is indicative and may change from year to year.
Assessment details
One essay of 2,000 words (50 % of final mark) and one take-home exam of 2,000 words (50 % of final mark)
Educational aims & objectives
In this module, students will be introduced to a range of challenges to democracy in the Hispanic world and beyond. The module will in the first four sessions introduce students to the main debates in democratic theory, as well as the impact of globalisation on the concept of democratic sovereignty. The module subsequently offers a thematic approach to learning. The remaining six sessions offer comparative analyses with cases in Southern Europe and Latin America. The structure will introduce students to a range of case studies which focus on the most pressing issues in democratic governance at present, ranging from populism and economic crises to political violence and disaffection. The module engages with political, economic and social aspects of democracy, and familiarises students with core concepts such as sovereignty, representation, consensus, and citizenship. Strong emphasis is placed on the students’ own experiences of democracy and representation, and current events. The module also engages with democracy as a topic in the arts and popular culture. The aim of this module is thus to engage students in critical analysis of contemporary democratic systems and thought. The students will gain deeper knowledge of theoretical approaches to democracy, and of empirical circumstances which could be seen as either challenges to democracy, or vehicles for political change. Students will advance their independent critical abilities through detailed analysis of case studies in essay writing and in-class presentations.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate the intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to a Level 6 module and in particular will be able to demonstrate:
- A systematic understanding of the main components of and critiques against contemporary democratic theories.
- Detailed knowledge about current problems in democratic decision-making in the South European and Latin American contexts.
- An ability to compare, analyse and synthetise about democratic procedures and challenges in Southern Europe and Latin America.
- An ability to critically assess and apply democratic theories to contemporary politics.
- The ability to investigate, with minimal supervision, the economic and social components of democracy in the Latin American and Southern European contexts.
- Critically reflect on the possibilities for change, and structural path dependencies.
- Transferable skills, such as to the ability to communicate independent knowledge both in written and oral forms.
- Skills key for employability, such as the ability to work effectively both independently and as a team, and an awareness of their own performance in relation to set standards.
Teaching pattern
Two hours a week
Suggested reading list
- Held, David (2006), Models of democracy, Stanford: Stanford University Press.
- Dryzek, John (2002), Deliberative Democracy and Beyond: Liberals, Critics, Contestations, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Little, Adrian and Moya Lloyd (2009), The Politics of Radical Democracy, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Gerbaudo, Paolo (2017), The mask and the flag: populism, citizenism and global protest, London: Hurst and Company.
- Schneider, Carsten (2009), The Consolidation of Democracy: Comparing Europe and Latin America, Abingdon: Routledge