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School of Law, Politics and Sociology

PS&I: Contesting Electoral Autocracy (L2088)

Political Systems and Institutions: Contesting Electoral Autocracy

Module L2088

Module details for 2023/24.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 5

Module Outline

vWe live in an age of growing autocracy, but in particular, growing electoral autocracy, in which multiparty elections live alongside autocratic practices. In such regimes, partisan struggles to win elections are often simultaneously struggles over the viability of the regime itself. This module is about such partisan contestation in such regimes. In it, you will explore how parties organise, communicate, and compete in such contexts, but also how regimes repress and opposition movements protest simultaneously. You will analyse both primary and secondary sources. You will do so by exploring instances of electoral autocracy in Africa and around the world.

Module learning outcomes

Conceptualise the key actors, activities, circumstances and dynamics of electoral-autocratic contestation

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of strategies of electoral-autocratic contestation

Critically evaluate theories of electoral-autocratic contestation

Effectively formulate, organise and communicate arguments

TypeTimingWeighting
Essay (3500 words)Semester 2 Assessment Week 2 Tue 16:00100.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Spring SemesterLecture1 hour11111111111
Spring SemesterSeminar1 hour11111111111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Daniel Paget

Convenor, Assess convenor
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