ID:
510843
Durata (ore):
40
CFU:
6
SSD:
SCIENZA POLITICA
Anno:
2024
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Secondo Semestre (24/02/2025 - 30/05/2025)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
The course primarily aims at exploring why and how some states become democratic whilst others remain authoritarian or reverse to autocracy. It does so by discussing at length the main theories that the sub-field has produced and then zooming in on the recent democratization processes in Tunisia and Egypt. On successful completion of the course, the students will be able to: (a) comprehend the key distinguishing features among different forms of political rule; (b) understand the main theoretical approaches that deal with democratization; (c) identify the various domestic and international causes and consequences of democratization; (d) map the development of democracy and autocracy across time and space; and (e) learn how to empirically assess concrete cases of (successful/failed) democratization.
Prerequisiti
The course requires a good command of the English language to follow the lessons and actively participate in class. For those students who have never taken any class in political science, the following background readings (not the whole texts, but only the specified chapters) are strongly recommended:
Dahl, R. (1971) Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, Chapter 1.
Linz, J. (2000) Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes. London: Lynne Rienner, Chapter 4.
Tilly, C. (2007) Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Chapter 1.
Dahl, R. (1971) Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, Chapter 1.
Linz, J. (2000) Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes. London: Lynne Rienner, Chapter 4.
Tilly, C. (2007) Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Chapter 1.
Metodi didattici
The course mixes both standard and more innovative teaching methods. In order to increase students’ participation in class, lessons are based on interactive discussions that aims at developing knowledge by raising questions, doubts, and paradoxes that require students’ critical engagement. After the first part of the course, the class is divided into groups and each one of these will present and discuss one of the articles assigned.
Verifica Apprendimento
The assessment of the topics covered during the course is carried out through a written exam.
Students will be judged in accordance to three course requirements: (a) in-class participation that concerns the capacity of students to participate in the course of the lessons (10% of the final grade); (b) in-group participation that concerns the capacity of students to discuss and present the article assigned to the group to which they belong (10% of the final grade); and (c) final written exam that aims at verifying the knowledge of students regarding the main theoretical and empirical aspects that the course has covered (80% of the final grade).
Students will be judged in accordance to three course requirements: (a) in-class participation that concerns the capacity of students to participate in the course of the lessons (10% of the final grade); (b) in-group participation that concerns the capacity of students to discuss and present the article assigned to the group to which they belong (10% of the final grade); and (c) final written exam that aims at verifying the knowledge of students regarding the main theoretical and empirical aspects that the course has covered (80% of the final grade).
Testi
The course is based on the following text:
Møller, J. and S.-E Skaaning (2024) Democratization and Autocratization in Comparative Perspective: Concepts, Currents, Causes, Consequences, and Challenges. London: Routledge, Chapter 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9
In addition, to contextualize the discussion on political regimes and explore in detail the cases of Tunisia and Egypt, the following articles are part of the required readings as well:
- James, T. (2024) “Real Democracy: A Critical Realist Approach to Democracy and Democratic Theory”, New Political Science 46(3): 228–258.
- Cianetti, L., G. Del Panta, C. Owen (2025) “What is a ‘regime’? Three definitions and their implications for the future of regime studies”, forthcoming 1–24.
- Zemni, S. (2015) “The Extraordinary Politics of the Tunisian Revolution: The Process of Constitution Making”, Mediterranean Politics 20(1): 1–17.
- Boubekeur, A. (2016) “Islamists, Secularists and Old Regime Elites in Tunisia: Bargained Competition”, Mediterranean Politics 21(1): 107–127.
- Brown, N. (2013) “Egypt’s Failed Transition”, Journal of Democracy 24(4): 45–58.
- Ryzova, L. (2020) “The Battle of Muhammad Mahmud street in Cairo: The Poetics and Politics of Urban Violence in Revolutionary Times”, Past and History 247(1): 273–317.
All the articles will be provided and made available on the Kiro platform.
Møller, J. and S.-E Skaaning (2024) Democratization and Autocratization in Comparative Perspective: Concepts, Currents, Causes, Consequences, and Challenges. London: Routledge, Chapter 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9
In addition, to contextualize the discussion on political regimes and explore in detail the cases of Tunisia and Egypt, the following articles are part of the required readings as well:
- James, T. (2024) “Real Democracy: A Critical Realist Approach to Democracy and Democratic Theory”, New Political Science 46(3): 228–258.
- Cianetti, L., G. Del Panta, C. Owen (2025) “What is a ‘regime’? Three definitions and their implications for the future of regime studies”, forthcoming 1–24.
- Zemni, S. (2015) “The Extraordinary Politics of the Tunisian Revolution: The Process of Constitution Making”, Mediterranean Politics 20(1): 1–17.
- Boubekeur, A. (2016) “Islamists, Secularists and Old Regime Elites in Tunisia: Bargained Competition”, Mediterranean Politics 21(1): 107–127.
- Brown, N. (2013) “Egypt’s Failed Transition”, Journal of Democracy 24(4): 45–58.
- Ryzova, L. (2020) “The Battle of Muhammad Mahmud street in Cairo: The Poetics and Politics of Urban Violence in Revolutionary Times”, Past and History 247(1): 273–317.
All the articles will be provided and made available on the Kiro platform.
Contenuti
The course is divided into 10 sessions. Each session is composed of two lessons
Session 1: Introduction to the course and the concept of political regime
Session 2: Democracy and varieties of authoritarianism
Session 3: How countries become democratic: Modernization Theory
Session 4: How countries become democratic: Social Forces
Session 5: How countries become democratic: Transitology
Session 6: How countries become democratic: International Factors
Session 7: The Middle East and North Africa: A very short introduction to the region
Session 8: Case-study: Tunisia
Session 9: Case-study: Egypt
Session 10: Recap of the course
Session 1: Introduction to the course and the concept of political regime
Session 2: Democracy and varieties of authoritarianism
Session 3: How countries become democratic: Modernization Theory
Session 4: How countries become democratic: Social Forces
Session 5: How countries become democratic: Transitology
Session 6: How countries become democratic: International Factors
Session 7: The Middle East and North Africa: A very short introduction to the region
Session 8: Case-study: Tunisia
Session 9: Case-study: Egypt
Session 10: Recap of the course
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
Only for students who are recipients of inclusive teaching methods: contact the teacher directly
Office hours: Wednesday 2-3 pm. Online meetings can be arranged with the teacher
Office hours: Wednesday 2-3 pm. Online meetings can be arranged with the teacher
Corsi
Corsi
WORLD POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (POLITICA NEL MONDO E RELAZIONI INTERNAZIONALI)
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
No Results Found