Politics

Political Systems and Institutions: Contesting Electoral Autocracy

Module code: L2088
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

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