POLM4001 Special Issues in Political Science 1 (5 cr)

The lecture focuses on the democratization in middle-income countries, notably in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (possibly in Mediterranean country). Following Huntington (1991), the process of democratization in the modern era has been divided into three waves. The 'third wave' started in Southern Europe in the mid-1970s, and then moved into Latin America and Asia, reaching Central and Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa in the late 1980s. While many of these states could be categorised as 'electoral democracies' by the end of the 20th century, only a few fulfil the broader criteria of democracy. In the course, we will analyze the process of democratization and its obstacles (from local democracy), focusing on existing and new structures for participation on local level, such as elected local government institutions, community-based associations, as well as traditional and religious authorities.
We will read texts related to the theme of the week before the class. The lecture requires active participation and obligatory readings. During the course, after short introduction, we will discuss and survey the politics (and individual countries) in the region and students present their reading notes on the theme. Students also work in groups to choose their country preference (according to the discussed regions) to prepare the presentation and present their work in the class.
Learning outcomes:
Students will be familiar with the basic aspects of democracy and democratization in middle-income countries, notably in Africa, Asia and Latin America and contemplating the link between participation and democracy in countries discussed in the class. It is expected that students may acknowledge the experiences of democracy in these countries to the recent debates in comparative politics, international relations, and development studies.

Sisältö:

Jacques Rancière on yksi tämän hetken merkittävin politiikan nykyteoreetikko, jonka tulkinta politiikasta uudistaa myös monitieteellisesti käsityksiä taiteesta, pedagogiikasta sekä yhteiskuntatieteistä. Politiikassa on Rancièren mukaan kyse yhteiskunnan "osattoman osan” näkyväksi tekemisestä. Kurssilla tarkastellaan Rancièren käsitystä politiikasta erimielisyytenä ja kiistana erilaisten maailmaa selittämään pyrkivien aistimellisten havaintotapojen välillä.

Kurssi asettaa Rancièren poliittisen ajattelun osaksi politiikan tutkimuksen nykysuuntauksia yhteiskunnallista erimielisyyttä koskevien esteettisten ja poliittisten esimerkkien kautta.


Osaamistavoitteet:

Kurssin suoritettuaan opiskelija tuntee Rancièren ajattelun keskeiset teemat ja käsitteet, sekä pystyy soveltamaan niitä monipuolisesti erilaisiin yhteiskunnallisiin ilmiöihin.

This lecture focuses on the democratization in middle-income countries, notably in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Following Huntington (1991), the process of democratization in the modern era has been divided into three waves. The ’third wave’ started in Southern Europe in the mid-1970s, and then moved into Latin America and Asia, reaching Central and Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa in the late 1980s. While many of these states could be categorised as ’electoral democracies’ by the end of the 20th century, only a few fulfil the broader criteria of democracy. In the course, we will analyze the process of democratization and its obstacles (from local democracy), focusing on existing and new structures for participation on local level, such as elected local government institutions, community-based associations, as well as traditional and religious authorities.
We will read the texts related to the theme of the week before the class. The lecture requires active participation and obligatory readings. During the course, after short introduction, we will discuss and survey the politics (and individual countries) in the region and students discuss their reading notes on the theme.

More information and instruction for students

This course has two assessment items:

Conference notes (40%). The 4–6-page long conference notes should include information about each workshop and the roundtable that the student attended, as well as outline the key points covered by the presenters and the speakers.

Essay (60%). This 6–8-page long essay answering a set of three questions:

      - What political problem(s) or question(s) does the selected thematic field address?

     - What are the key concepts or theories used to debate that problem or question these problems or questions?

      - How do scholars go about addressing these problems or questions, i.e. through what methods?