Entry requirements

90 credits in Political Science (A+B+C) or equivalent and 30 credits in Social Science, or 90 credits in Social and Political Studies (A+B+C) and 60 credits in Political Science. Proof of skills in Swedish to a level corresponding to Swedish B in the Swedish secondary school. Proof of skills in English to a level corresponding to English B in the Swedish secondary school. Students within the Master Programme in Politics and International Studies, the Master Programme in Development Studies or the Master Programme in Political Science are required to have obtained at least 15 credits within the programme.

Learning outcomes

Comparative Politics: Modernization, Democracy and Mobilization in Global Perspective

After completion of the course the students are expected to:

• have improved their understanding of research in the field of comparative politics. The students should acquire a deeper understanding and knowledge of the usefulness, possibilities and the limitations of pursuing research with a comparative perspective.
• to understand what is commonly known as modernisation and the factors that determine outcomes of modernisation processes. This goal includes having a better understanding of what determines the outcome of democratisation processes and what conditions economic growth in different parts of the world. In particular the role of political elites, institutions and citizens will be studied.
• be acquainted with the research done by senior scholars in comparative politics in the department
• be able to apply and discuss the theories presented in the course and to formulate a “thesis proposal” – with a research question and matching research design that fits the scope of a Master's thesis.

Content

The course builds on insights about political processes that the students have gained from the A-, B- and C-level courses in political science given the Department of Government, Uppsala University. After finishing the course the students are expected to have a deeper understanding about modernisation processes and what shapes outcomes of political processes that involve democratisation, governance, economic growth, and the redistribution of wealth.

The school of modernisation is perhaps one of the most influential theoretical contributions in modern social sciences. In its simplest form, it claims that democracy’s survival depends on economic growth. Also, vice versa, democracy provides the best conditions for economic growth. So, if a society manages to achieve one of those goals, a virtuous cycle can begin. Today, researchers in this area would regard this description as simplistic. Between economic growth and democracy would regard the description above as simplistic. Also, the side effects of neoliberal perspectives on economic growth are strongly, and on good grounds, criticized. Furthermore, in many parts of the world democracy is regarded as just a false front of modern versions of imperialism. Nonetheless, the school of modernisation is not dead. In fact we can still argue that it is useful, even if it needs to be modified to take into consideration the complexities of the contemporary world.

Therefore, this course will bring attention to; contemporary conflicts around the world, the political conditions governing post-communist states, what determines impact of political mobilisation, and the role of international aid efforts in what we can call modernisation processes. We will thoroughly investigate the role of civil society and social movements in different regime types and political contexts, and we will try to understand why, sometimes, democracy and economic growth can be regarded foes to each other rather than friends. We ask: to what extent are theories of modernisation useful for explaining and understanding democratic and economic development?

Instruction

The course consists of lectures and seminars. The language of instruction is English if non-Swedish speaking students are present in the course. Students may write the “thesis proposal” in Swedish or English.

Assessment

Attendance at the seminars is compulsory and students are expected to take an active part in the discussions. The course - being an advanced course open to Master’s level as well as PhD students - places great emphasis on the ability of students to work and discuss the course readings independently, mainly in written but also in oral form.

The requirements of the course are:

• Attendance and active participation at the seminars
• Attendance at some lectures
• Writing a thesis proposal
• Completing seminar assignments

The grade

The grade is based on the students’ performance in the following sections and parts of the course:

• The students need to participate in all seminars. In the case of a missed seminar they will be asked to write an article review that is 1200 words long. Participation in the seminars is only graded as “pass” or “fail.” If the students come to the seminars, participate in the debates, and have done their best to absorb the literature before the seminar, then it is very likely that they will pass.
• The “Thesis Proposal” will be graded. The students need at least a 50% score to pass, and at least 75% to pass with distinction. The grade for the “Thesis Proposal” constitutes 50% of the final grade.
• The seminar assignments will be graded. The student needs at least 50% to pass, and at least 75% to pass with distinction. The grade for the exam constitutes 50% of the final grade.

The final grade is given according to the Swedish university grading system. There are three grades: Fail, Pass, and Pass with Distinction. To pass one needs at least a total score of 50%, to pass with distinction, one needs a score of at least 75%.