Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics

Dictators and Democrats: Comparative  Politics

Assignment 3: Major essay Word limit: 3000 words (+/- 10%) Weighting: 40% After you have read this information, head over to the Assignment 3 Q&A discussion board to ask any questions and see what your peers are saying about this assignment. Assignment overview This assignment task requires you to write a 3000-word essay that evaluates one of the following claims: 1. When a society is divided along ethnic or religious lines, democracy breeds conflict and instability. Authoritarian rule is more likely to produce stability. 2. A presidential democracy is more likely to produce strong, effective government than a parliamentary democracy. 3. In reforming a communist system, maintaining an authoritarian system will result in more effective and stable government than democratic political reform. 4. Liberal policies produces not only greater liberty and economic growth than any alternative, they also produce greater equality. Compare a case study of liberalism with a case-study of one of the political ideologies. 5. The obstacles to democracy are no greater in poor countries than they are in rich countries. 6. The choice of an electoral system has little impact on how a democratic political system functions. 7. Terrorism is a product of religious extremism. Your essay will use a comparison of two appropriate case studies to support the argument. Related learning outcomes This assignment assesses the following unit learning outcomes: 1. Understand key concepts of political science. 2. Critically differentiate types of political systems. 3. Demonstrate critical understanding of the political systems of at least two case-study countries. Assignment 3: Major essay Page 1 of 5 https://swinburneonline.instructure.com/courses/930/assignments/10708 12/03/2019 4. Coherently articulate general claims through the use of case studies and focused comparisons.