Democracy and Dictatorship
Spring 2002: POLS #129
Professor Eleanor Zeff
Off. Hrs. MW-3:30-5: TR-12-1
Meredith Office #209: 271-3102
or by appointment
eleanor.zeff@drake.edu
Class meets MW-11-12:15
Politics Department Philosophy:
The program in Politics seeks to induct students into the community of liberally
educated indi-viduals, who are capable of understanding government and politics in
terms of the theories, concepts, and tools of sophisticated political analysis, which
characterize the discipline of political science. The liberal-arts dimension of our
mission stems from our belief that all people are embedded in a polit-ical environment
which acts upon them in ways they must understand if they are to function effectively
as active participants in a democratic society.
Our goal, therefore, is not to train professional political scientists, but rather
to produce the liberally educated citizen who is fluent in the language of politics
and political analysis and thereby has a foundation for both citizenship in a democratic
society and successful training in a job, in gradu-ate school, or in a professional
school. Such a person has the capacity to recognize and evaluate as-sumptions, implications,
and causal relationships pertaining to politics and to other realms of human experience.
Course Description:
This course will focus on two types of political regimes: democracies and dictatorships
(both authoritarian and totalitarian types). These two regime types differ
in the emphasis they place on the questions of command, consent, interests and rights
in societies. Authoritarian rule is the oldest and most common form of government
known to history. Since the 1990s, however, the prevalence of authoritarian
governments has declined, and many countries are becoming more democratic.
Noted political scientist, Samuel Huntington has called this phenomenon the ÒThird
Wave of Democratization.Ó It is too soon to know if this trend will
last as earlier movements toward democracy have faced reversals, and democracy is
often hard to maintain. Nevertheless, there were several questions that these
regime changes raised such as: why does democracy occur; what makes it endure; what
are the contradictions between the liberal and democratic versions of democracy;
can democracy expand from the nation state to the new global/international level;
and will it last as long as authoritarian forms of government have lasted?
We will study these questions by looking at the theories of different regime types,
and we will also look at how these theories manifest themselves in some specific
countries around the world. We will discuss some major theories about democracies
that have shed some light on these questions. One theory has suggested that
the creation of stable democracies is linked to the type of political culture found
in these countries. Another approach has shown a positive correlation between
economic development and democracy.
We will study these topics through readings, discussions and intensive writing.
In order to more fully explore these exciting issues, you will write a major paper
using political theories (discussed in class/readings) to explain the development
or lack of democracy in a particular country of your choice. This paper
will be done in a series of steps, each of which will be graded, and will culminate
in a final paper of 10 to 15 well-researched pages. You will also present and
discuss in class the theories you use to analyze your country.
Required Readings:
Magstadt and Schotten, Understanding Politics , 5th ed. St. MartinÕs Press,
1999.
Markoff, Waves of Democracy, Pine Forge Press (Sage), 1996.
Huntington, The Third Wave, University of Oklahoma Press, 1993.
Putnam, Making Democracy Work, Princeton, 1993.
Gill, The Dynamics of Democratization, St. MartinÕs Press, 2000.
Harnack, Writing Research Papers, 2nd ed. Greenhaven Press, 1998.
Class Requirements:
1. 10% Participation: You are expected to actively contribute to class discussions
and to be prepared to answer (in writing or orally) pop questions on the readings.
More than 2 unexcused absences may result in a lowered grade.
2. 25% A midterm exam: March 6 (Wednesday).
3. 10% PrZ*cis Report on Theories: Due February 18. Study some theories and
choose the country you wish to study. Choose 4 to 5 articles/chapters/sections
from the required reading list that you think will help you understand why or why
not your country is democratic. Read the articles carefully and write a four-sentence
prZ*cis on each theory you choose. Refer to the Harnack book, pp. 3-9 for Writing
Assignment #1 and how to write a prZ*cis and take Dialectical notes; pp. 8-9 (1 to
2 pages only).
4. 10% A Background Report, with a Bibliography (Works Cited) and notes: Due
on April 1. See Harnack, Ch. 2, pp.14-28 and Chs. 3-4. Briefly answer the questions
on p. 15 in writing (1-2pages) and then do ÒSuggested Writing Assignment #16,Ó
paying special attention to Assignments # 10, 11 and 15, as well as any others you
may think are appropriate for your paper. Your background paper should be around
3 pages, and you should also be prepared to discuss your paper in class. Be
sure to document carefully and to read Ch. 3 for documentation style guidelines (internal
notes and Bibliographies). You may also use the Scott book; The Political Science
Student WriterÕs Manual (on reserve in the Library) for the documentation
style if you prefer. The styles in each book are slightly different, but I
will accept either form.
5. 10% ÒStructuring Your PaperÓ April 15, Read Chapter 6 in Harnack,
Combine Writing Assignments 18-20 and state and support (or refute) your thesis (A#18
and #20) and write the outline of your paper (A#19).
6. 20% Final copies of your papers are due in class on April 29. Read Harnack,
Ch 7. We will also begin class presentations and discussions about the contents
of these papers on April 29, and we will continue these discussions through May 8
(4 class periods if necessary). Be prepared to discuss your findings orally
with the rest of the class.
7. 10% Book Review: Compare and Contrast the views of Huntington and the views
of Putnam on Democracy (3-4 pages), Due on April 22.
8. 5% A Letter of Reflection: See Harnack, pp. 98-99 and follow the instructions.
These letters are due in person at the time of the regularly scheduled exam period.
Class Outline:
January 22-30 Introduction
to Politics and Authoritarianism:
Magstadt and Schotten, pp. 1-102.
There will be no class on Jan. 28 as Dr. Zeff is out of town.
February 4- 27: Democratic Regimes:
Theories of Democracy: Forms and Adaptations of Democracy (Case Studies: France,
Germany, India)
The Third Wave of Democracy
Magstadt, pp. 103-174, Huntington book, all
Markoff, pp. 1-155.
March 4-April 3: The Breakdown of Authoritarian Regimes
(MobutoÕs Zaire, Iran), Transitions (Ghana, Argentina), Post Communism (Eastern
Europe), Civil Society, Developing Areas
Gill, pp. 1-242; and Magstadt, pp. 175-243.
April 8-May 8: Social Capital:
Making Democracy Work (Italy)
Can Democracy as we know it work in a globalized world or at international or supranational
levels? Can a political
concept such as Democracy work in economic systems? These
are the questions we will try to answer by the end of the semester.
What does PutnamÕs theory add to earlier theories about democracy?
Putnam, pp. 3-185.
Final copies of the finished paper are due on April 29.