Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Students must have studied at least 1 politics module at stages 1 and 2

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The general aim of this module is to develop, in a structured and interactive manner, a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and prospects for democracy in societies deeply divided along ethnic lines. Its more particular aim is to gain key analytic skills necessary to:
1.       compare and evaluate alternative conceptions of ethnicity;
2.       compare and evaluate competing theories of ethnic conflict;
3.       compare and evaluate competing theories of institutional-design for deeply divided societies;
4.       critically evaluate efforts on the part of international community to build democracy in deeply divided societies;
5.       critically evaluate the prospects for democracy in particular countries.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module focuses on the challenges and prospects for democracy in societies deeply divided along ethnic lines. It examines competing theories of ethnicity, ethnic conflict, negotiation, power sharing, federalism and international mediation. While the module is theory driven, it uses a range of illustrative examples from around the globe, including Belgium, Bosnia, Burundi, Cyprus, Iraq, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1.       A sound grasp of key political concepts essential to the study of democracy in divided societies.
2.       Knowledge of competing accounts of ethnicity and ethnic conflict.
3.       A sound understanding of the key institutional and territorial options for deeply divided societies, along with an awareness of the complexity of their implementation.
4.       A developed understanding of both the internal and external dimensions of ethnic conflict.
5.       Knowledge of a range of empirical cases.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1.       The ability to engage in clear conceptual analysis.
2.       The ability to write clearly and concisely about real-world problems.
3.       The ability to conduct research (desk-based/online) independently.
4.       The ability to listen to others thoughtfully and to challenge their views appropriately through critical argument.
5.       The ability to marshal empirical evidence drawn from actual cases for the purposes of critical argument.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

•       The recapped lectures are designed to provide students with overviews of the key issues surrounding the challenges and prospects for democracy in deeply divided societies, drawing on empirical examples where appropriate. The lectures will enhance their ability to engage in clear conceptual analysis as well as their ability to marshal empirical evidence drawn from actual cases for the purposes of critical argument.

•       The online synchronous seminars are designed to provide an active learning environment in which students can explore those challenges in greater depth. The seminars will enhance students’ ability to listen to others thoughtfully and to challenge their views appropriately through critical argument.

•       In preparation for the seminars, students will spend an hour working through a list of questions on a (pre-distributed) seminar worksheet. This will enhance their ability to engage in conceptual analysis.

•       Students will also spend an hour working through an annotated reading. This will enhance their ability to conduct research independently.

•       The office hour will give students a further opportunity to raise questions, enhance their conceptual skills, and to learn more about how to structure independent study.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The policy report is designed to test each student’s grasp of the key theories and concepts discussed during the course of the module. In asking the students to apply those concepts to an actually existing deeply divided society, the report will also test their ability to:
•       Choose an appropriate case study
•       Engage in independent research around that case study
•       Highlight a key contemporary problem
•       Propose institutional solutions.
The report is also designed to encourage students to engage with actual country reports (a list of relevant NGOs and IGOs is included in the module guide) and hence to enhance their transferrable skills.

General Notes

N/A