POLS210-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Democratic Uprisings and Political Participation

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

With democracy increasingly coming under attack around the world, this course examines democratic uprisings, focusing on the "people's power" uprisings in Southeast Asia, the "Arab Spring" uprisings in the Middle East, and contemporary uprisings in other parts of the world. It examines the causes of uprisings, the factors that lead to success or failure, and the role of both traditional and social media in the uprisings. It considers when newly created democracies are most likely to succeed and when they are likely to fail. Last, we consider the threats to contemporary democracies, particularly new democracies, but also with some reflection on more established democracies like our own.

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the course, students are expected to
  • gain an understanding of relevant tools and theories in comparative politics
  • familiarize themselves with theories related to democratization and political participation
  • apply concepts and theories learned in the course
  • identify major issues and current debates on democratization in Southeast Asia and the Middle East
  • develop an understanding of the cultural context and norms relevant to democracy and participation
  • develop an understanding of the impact of globalisation and global norms on democratisation
  • further develop their ability in communicating ideas cogently and forming reasoned arguments
  • evaluate and use appropriate evidence
  • develop their ability in doing research independently and writing logically and coherently

Prerequisites

Any 15 points at 100 level from POLS, or
any 60 points at 100 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or
LAWS, GEOG, or
the Schedule V of the BCom.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 11:00 - 12:00 E5 Lecture Theatre
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 11:00 - 13:00 Rehua 009
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct

Course Coordinator

James Ockey

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Learning Activities 15% About every 3 weeks, exact dates on Learn
Final test 35% Take home test, open book and open note. Held 16-17 October.
Short paper 08 Aug 2025 20% 1,000 words
Research Paper 22 Sep 2025 30% 2,000 words

Textbooks / Resources

Required readings will be made available on Learn (most books) or through the library (some books, most journal articles).

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $894.00

International fee $4,100.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS210 Occurrences

  • POLS210-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025
  • POLS210-25S2 (D) Semester Two 2025 (Distance)