Module overview
All over the world the ideal of democratic government has higher support than at almost any time in human history. Yet many citizens of democracies are very frustrated with the way the democracy they live in works. It is one thing to recognise the contemporary problems of democracy but another to know what to do about them. The aim of the module is to familiarise students with the best known tools for improving democratic governance, and to consider if and how democracy can be reinvented.
Linked modules
Pre-requisites: PAIR1001 OR PAIR1002 OR PAIR1004 OR PAIR1005
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Analyse data on participation and effective government.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of different approaches and frameworks to understanding democratic practices and the relationship between citizens and the state (and other public authorities).
- Develop skills in communicating using information technology and contributing to online crowdsourcing of data.
- Distinguish between different democratic traditions and offer theoretically-informed analysis of developments in democratic practice
- Develop skills in different types of written communication including writing case studies for general audiences.
- Learn how to (re)design institutions to improve democratic governance
Syllabus
- Democratic citizenship: Who governs in Modern Democracies?
- Barriers to Deep Democracy: The Voice of the Sceptics
- The Limits of Elections
- Reform and Innovation in Democratic Governance
- Participatory Budgeting and the Mass Assemblies
- Randomly Selected Mini-publics
- Direct Legislation and Plebiscitary Democracy
- Civic Technology, E-democracy and Algorithmic Governance
- Nudging, Paternalism and Mass Behaviour Change
- Citizens, Populists, Elites and Experts: Who are we sick of?
- What do Democrats do? From Volunteering to Representing
- Size, Democracy and Multi-level Governance
- Improving Deliberation, Political Knowledge and Communication
- Analysing Participatory Practices and Redesigning Institutions
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
2 hours of lectures per week. All will be recorded and posted on Blackboard. Lectures will be delivered either face to face or online only depending upon University and Public Health England Guidance at the time. Total of 24 hours of lectures (2 hours per week X 12 weeks) per module.
Weekly student participation in online discussion boards. 1 hour per week delivered asynchronously. (1 hour X 12 weeks)
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 36 |
| Independent Study | 114 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research proposal | 25% |
| Research project | 50% |
| Discussion board activity | 25% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework portfolio | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External