Globalisation and Democratic Politics: the End of the Nation State?
| Module title | Globalisation and Democratic Politics: the End of the Nation State? |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL3132 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Dario Castiglione (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
In this module you will study the contemporary transformation of democratic institutions and democratic politics from the nation-state to the global context. This transformation will be studied first by looking at the values and principles of democracy (liberty, equality, self-government); at the forms of democracy (representative: participatory, deliberative, and constitutional); at the institutions and mechanisms (the majority rule; parliaments, parties; democratic rights and constitutions); and at its conditions (trust, civil society; civic culture). You will l then explore how the transformation of modern societies into multicultural and global interconnected states affects the various aspects of democracy, from its principles to its forms; from its institutions to its conditions. Finally, you will investigate the feasibility of more global, regional, or international forms of democracy, where ideas of borders and of the democratic community become more fluid and undetermined. Is there democracy without the nation state? This is a question that we increasingly confront in real politics all the time. What does it mean, and how we deal with it? This is the main rationale of this module.
There are neither pre- or co-requisite for this module. No specific knowledge is required. A familiarity with the more theoretical literature in politics and social theory is an advantage. This module is suited for interdisciplinary pathways
Module aims - intentions of the module
To study the transformation of the principles, institutions and conditions of democratic politics from the nation-state to the global context. To explore the effects that this transformation has on our idea of politics and democracy, and how this affect how conception of the political community. To investigate the feasibility of more fluid and global ideas and practices of democracy.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate substantive knowledge of the theories and developments considered during the course; the significance of these theories and the major critical positions adopted towards them..
- 2. identify and discuss the key concepts deployed in theories of democracy and globalisation, and their argumentative articulation.
- 3. identify clearly the contention made by the different theories of globalisation and engage in reasoned criticism of the either theories supporting or opposing global democracy.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. demonstrate critical and analytical skills in relation to this body of literature,.
- 5. criticise and construct arguments with regard both to their logical rigour and political plausibility.
- 6. exercise informed judgement concerning the policy implications of abstract political principles.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. present complex arguments with clarity and concision
- 8. identify spurious conclusions and distinguish rigorous from merely persuasive argument.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following
Principles and Types of Democracy
Democracy in history
Minimalist conceptions of Democracy
Democracy: Ideals and values
Political Equality
The Majority’s Rule
Representative Democracy
Participative Democracy
Deliberative Democracy and Public Reason
The conditions and the transformation of democracy
Self-government: territory and nation
Populism
Democracy and the civic community
Democracy and Multiculturalism
Democracy and Globalisation
Peoples and Borders: Cosmopolitan Democracy?
International and transnational Democracy
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and teaching activity | 44 | 2-hour weekly seminars with a mix of formal lecture, student-led seminar, collective discussion |
| Guided Independent study | 256 | A variety of private study tasks directed by module leader including Independent research and writing for presentation, for class engagement and for assessed essays. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assignment: One short essay in preparation of first assessment | 1,000 words | 1-8 | Written and oral feedback |
| One Outline in preparation of final assessment | 500 Words | 1-8 | Written and oral feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First written Assignment : Two short essays on pre-circulated questions | 25 | 2 x 1,000 words | 1-8 | Written and oral feedback |
| Second written Assignment : Two essays on topics covered in second part of module | 50 | 2 x 2,000 words | 1-8 | Written Feedback |
| Assignment 3: Class Participation, comprising (a) oral class presentation (b) a record of contributions to in-class discussion in the form of brief summaries to be provided to the module convenor by email after class) | 25 | (a) One presentation of 10-15 minutes (b) 8-10 short class contributions of 200c. words each | 1-8 | Written Feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Written Assignment : 2 short essays on pre-circulated questions (2 x 1,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
| Assignment 2 | Written Assignment : 2 essays on pre-circulated questions (2 x 2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
| Assignment 3 | Written Assignment : a review piece of one of the core texts in place of class participation (2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
|
Albert Weale, Democracy (Macmillan, 1995); David Held, Models of democracy (OUP, 1997); Anthony Smith, The Ethnic origins of nations (Blackwell, 1986); David Miller, On nationality (OUP, 1995); S. Caney, D. George and P. Jones (eds) National Rights, International Obligations (Westview Press, 1996); Andrew Linklater, The Transformation of Political Community (Polity, 1997); Amy Gutman and Charles Taylor, Multiculturalism (Princeton UP, 1992); Alan Patten, Equal Recognition (2015); Hannah Pitkin, The Concept of Representation (1967); Michael Saward, The Representative Claim (2012); Immanuel Kant, Political Writings (CUP, 1970); Margaret Canovan, The People (2005); Jan-Werner Müller, What is populism (2017); I. Shapiro and C. Hacker-Cordon (eds) Democracy's Edges (CUP, 1999); D. Archibugi, D. Held and M. Kohler (eds), Re-imagining political community (Polity, 1997); C. Brown (ed), Political restructuring in Europe (Routledge, 1994); Philippe Schmitter, How to democratize the European Union(Rowman and Littlefield, 2000) |
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Module has an active ELE page? |
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Online videos, documentaries, conference papers and online material
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/03 |
| Last revision date | 22/02/12 |
