AIP746 - Challenges to Democracy
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Baogang He |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | AIP446 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
Democracies face a host of unprecedented challenges: climate change, disease pandemics, religious and ethnic conflict, refugee crises, rapid digital transformations, and ever-widening global inequalities. These challenges are at once local and global in scope and compounded by globalization, post-truth politics and free-market capital. How can democracies meet these challenges and progress towards the creation of a more sustainable, peaceful and tolerant world? This unit introduces students to key conceptions of democratic governance, from the ‘civic republican’ model to the ‘liberal minimalist’ view. It then examines the ways democratic forms of governance operate at the local, national, transnational and global level – drawing on diverse examples such as the European Union and the United Nations. Students will benefit from learning about the complex problems democracy faces today and how theories and practices of democracy are evolving to address these challenges.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge of issues of governance, models of democracy and explanations of democratisation Analyse statements about governance, democracy and democratisation and debate the merits of various views about governance, democracy and democratisation | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Demonstrate an ability to evaluate, gather, organise, and use various forms of evidence to explain various aspects of different cases of democratic governance Compile and evaluate evidence relevant to the processes of democratic governance and decide how far a particular case exhibits these processes | GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Evaluate different models of democracy and different explanations of democratisation Dispute various positions and develop arguments in ongoing debates about democratic governance | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Communicate effectively in oral and written work Effectively communicate the findings and analyses of political science and apply them to real-world contexts, and do this in a range of formats for a range of readers | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Essay | 2000 words or equivalent | 40% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2: Essay | 3000 words or equivalent | 60% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for AIP746 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
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To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit Fee Information
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Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
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