Skip to main content
Unit outline_

GOVT3980: Democracy and Dictatorship

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The end of the Cold War marks the victory of democracy as the 'best' political system in the world. Yet many existing democracies today are fledgling and of poor quality and are at risk of breaking down. This unit will examine advanced theoretical and empirical debates about the origin, development and collapse of democracies since the 20th century. It also focuses in-depth on understanding why some authoritarian regimes remain resilient despite an ongoing global trend towards democratization.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Politics or 12 credit points at 2000 level in International Relations or 12 senior credit points from Government and International Relations
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator James Loxton, james.loxton@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) James Loxton, james.loxton@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) James Loxton, james.loxton@sydney.edu.au
Martin Kear, martin.kear@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
hurdle task
Final exam
Formal sit-down exam
40% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Participation hurdle task Tutorial participation
Attendance, tutorial discussion, and weekly discussion board
10% Ongoing ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Essay 1
Short essay
25% Week 09
Due date: 27 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1500 wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment hurdle task Essay 2
Short essay
25% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59
1500 wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Participation (weekly)

- Tutorial attendance

- Engaged discussion during tutorial

- Discussion board: write one short comment + one reply to another student’s comment on material covered each week (particularly readings)

Essay 1

- Write a 1,500 word essay in response to prompt provided by lecturer; essay to be grounded in the readings

Essay 2

- Write a 1,500 word essay in response to prompt provided by lecturer; essay to be grounded in the readings

Final exam

- Formal sit-down exam during exam period; based on content from the entire semester

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Discussion board - Late submissions not accepted Essay 1 and Essay 2 - 5% per day late

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 What is Democracy? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Theoretical Approaches: Structuralism, Voluntarism, and Institutionalism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 04 Regime Transitions (I): Democratic Breakdown Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 05 Regime Transitions (II): Democratic Transition and Consolidation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 06 The Third Wave of Democratisation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 07 The Puzzle of Authoritarian Durability Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 08 Blurred Lines (I): Hybrid Regimes and Subnational Authoritarianism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Blurred Lines (II): Authoritarian Vestiges in Democracies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 The World’s Biggest Democracy: India Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 11 The World’s Biggest Authoritarian Regime: China Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 12 The Threat of Democratic Erosion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 The Future of Democracy and Dictatorship Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Mandatory assessments

All assessments in this unit are mandatory. Failure to submit any assessment will result in an Absent Fail.

Attendance

According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes.

If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

Preparation

Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Schedule of readings

* See Canvas for detailed schedule of readings and lectures

Required book purchase

* Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die (New York: Broadway Books, 2019) [other editions of this book are also fine]

Other readings

* Other readings will be available on Canvas or the University of Sydney library website

 

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand how political scientists define terms such as “democracy” and “authoritarianism”
  • LO2. Critically engage with such concepts and how they have been applied in the past
  • LO3. Have a deeper understanding of major theories used to explain transitions from one regime type to another (e.g., democratic breakdown, democratisation)
  • LO4. Learn to apply such theories to both historical (e.g., “third wave” of democratisation) and contemporary cases (e.g., India, China)
  • LO5. Become familiar with cutting-edge concepts in comparative politics, such as “hybrid regime,” “subnational authoritarianism,” and “authoritarian successor parties”
  • LO6. Gain a richer understanding of world events through the application of theories of regimes and regime transitions (e.g., “democratic erosion,” “deconsolidation”)

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Since the last time this unit was taught, the percentages attached to Essay 1 and Essay 2 have decreased. A new sit-down formal exam has been added. This varied use of assessments lowers the stakes of each individual assessment and should better reflect students' overall progress in the unit.

UNIT DESCRIPTION

Why are some countries democracies and others dictatorships? This unit examines classic theories to explain phenomena such as democratic breakdown, democratisation, and authoritarian durability. It also explores a number of cutting-edge issues, such as hybrid regimes, subnational authoritarianism, and authoritarian successor parties. In the process, we will learn about cases from diverse regions and historical periods, including the world’s biggest democracy (India) and the world’s biggest authoritarian regime (China). We will also ask whether after decades of steady growth in the number of democracies worldwide, we are now in the midst of a “democratic recession”—and whether even countries such as the United States are at risk of sliding into authoritarianism.

Additional costs

One book purchase required (approx. $25)

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.