POLITICS 314 : Democracy in Theory and Practice

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines the theory and practice of democratic politics. Specific questions include how democracies try to reconcile freedom and equality, and the relations between democratic nationalism and citizenship. Practical topics include judicial review and the rule of law, referendums and the ‘tyranny of the majority’, and issues in political representation, including Māori representation. Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Political Studies or Politics and International Relations, or 15 points at Stage II in Political Studies or Politics and International Relations and 15 points at Stage II in Economics or History or Philosophy or Māori Studies or Sociology, or POLITICS 106 and 30 points at Stage II in Global Politics and Human Rights

Course Overview

This course explores democratic theory in the context of growing challenges to its practice in the world today. We look at different ways of thinking about democracy both as a general theory of political organisation and about the actual working of democratic states. We consider some of the difficulties democratic theory faces and think about how it might respond to these challenges. Among others, specific topics include populism, referendums, deliberation, citizenship, and political representation (including Māori representation). 
 
Combining sophisticated theory with practical material, this course should be of interest to any student curious about exploring the political world we live in. In particular, it should appeal (in no particular order) to students of politics, social thought, indigenous studies, international relations theory, philosophy and jurisprudence.

Course Requirements

Restriction: POLITICS 214

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop and demonstrate knowledge of primary currents in contemporary democratic theory. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  2. Develop and demonstrate critical perspectives regarding democratic theories. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  3. Develop and demonstrate skills in constructing arguments and analytical thinking and writing. (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Summaries (x 10) 5% Individual Coursework
Essay 20% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 35% Individual Examination

Plussage DOES NOT apply in this course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect to work 150 hours. This may comprise 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials or lectorials along with around 69 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 45 hours of work on assignments and/or exam preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Lectures are recorded and available through Canvas.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Please try your hardest to meet coursework deadlines. Extensions are possible if, for example, you or a family member falls ill, or some other circumstance beyond your control prevents you from completing your work. 
 
You can apply for an extension by contacting the teaching staff by email or during office hours.  You may need to provide supporting information, like a doctor's or counsellor's certificate, but the important thing is to get in contact.

Late submission of coursework is possible without an extension, so long as you are ready to accept a penalty by losing marks. Late penalties help ensure fairness, otherwise some students would have more time to complete work than others. 
 
The penalties for submitting work late when you do not have an extension are: 
  • Coursework submitted up to two days late will lose 5% of the total marks available for the assignment 
  • Coursework submitted three to five days late will lose 10% of the total marks available for the assignment 
  • Coursework submitted six to ten days late will lose 25% of the total marks available for the assignment

Weekends count as days. E.g. an essay due in on Thursday that is submitted on Monday is four days late.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 23/01/2020 01:23 p.m.