PL2003 - Governance, Democratisation and the State

[Offered in even-numbered years]

Available in even years

No individual can escape the state. But how pervasive or dominant is the state? What is the relationship between the state, globalisation, democratisation and governance. This subject will first discuss the development of the modern state and examine state power and competing modern state theories: Liberal-Pluralist, Elitist/Managerialist, Corporatist and Marxist. It will also discuss the role of the state in the economy and its relationship with civil society. This will cover both the advanced industrial countries and countries in the developing world. Second, the subject will focus on the relationship between state power and democratisation and globalisation, particularly the debates about the declining strength of states in the developing world as the result of the globalisation pressures and the rise of global civil society. The third part of the subject will deal with the issues of governance, which in recent years has gained prominence in the reform agenda promoted by such international bodies as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation of Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN).

Learning Outcomes

• enable students to conceptualise the state and to identify various forms and functions of the state;
• enhance students skills appropriate to analysing politics and public policy;
• equip students with more advanced skills in comparative politics;
• provide students with an understanding of the nature, development and the roles of the state.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner;
• A commitment to lifelong learning and intellectual development.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.