Power and Democracy
| Module title | Power and Democracy |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC2120 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Andrew Schaap (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
Should democratic politics be limited to citizens voting to elect representatives or should it be expanded to include workers’ control over production processes? Is democracy just a matter of voting to express individual preferences or should it also include deliberation to develop informed opinions? By introducing you to the field of democratic theory, this module will equip you to reflect on questions of franchise (who should exercise democratic control?), scope (over what areas of social life should democratic control be exercised?) and authenticity (how can democratic control be meaningfully exercised?).
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to encourage you to reflect on contemporary debates about democratic politics in light of two broad traditions of political thought: liberal and radical democracy. On the one hand, liberal democrats tend to view democracy simply as decision-making procedure: they want to limit democratic politics to appropriate political arenas and to direct it through appropriate channels. On the other hand, radical democrats tend to view democracy as a way of life: they want to expand democratic politics throughout social life and enhance the meaningfulness of participation available to citizens. You will reflect on how these traditions of democratic thought inform and influence how we think about three contested areas in which democratic control might be exercised: immigration, climate change and the workplace.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. distinguish between liberal and radical theories of democracy;
- 2. evaluate political phenomena in terms of normative criteria of democratic theory.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. assess the insightfulness of different interpretations of political texts and phenomena;
- 4. assimilate and analyse a range of sources in contemporary political theory.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. refine normative and conceptual arguments;
- 6. reflect on your own social position and political agency.
Syllabus plan
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 20 | 10 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 10 | 10 x 1 hour weekly pre-recorded lectures |
| Guided Independent study | 50 | Reading and preparing for seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 70 | Completing assessment tasks |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short written answer | 500 words | 1-6 | Written comments |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100 | 3,000 words | 1-6 | Written comments |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio (3,000 words) | Portfolio (3,000 words) (100%) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/12/2018 |
| Last revision date | 20/01/2025 |
