Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Learning outcomes

After the course, the students are expected to be able to

• understand and account for key theories of democratization and development towards authoritarian rule
• understand and account for key theories of connections between different forms of political identities and political institutions
• understand and account for how political identities and institutions are related to conflict and stability

Content

The course consists of two themes that are derived from connected dimensions of the relations between the exercise of state power and various identities and forms of organisation in society in different regions in the global south: i) democracy, ii) political identities. The course discusses both these themes in relation to economic and social development.

The first theme discusses forms of political rule, and introduces different explanations of democracy and authoritarian rule. The theme also discusses theories of how these forms of political rule are related to levels of development. The second theme discusses how different political identities are connected to the organisation of political institutions. This theme pays special attention to the question of how national identities are linked to other political identities based on gender, class, ethnicity and religion, how identities affect and are affected by the organisation of state institutions, and how this in turn is linked to issues of conflict and stability.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars. The course is taught in English.

Assessment

Students are examined through a written exam. Active participation in seminars, which include written assignments, gives credit when doing the written exam. Grades are awarded according the scale Failed, Pass and Pass with distinction.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other regulations

Further instructions will be given at the start of the course.