Democracy, Dictatorship and Capitalism
UndergraduateMUR-POL2282027
Course information for 2027 intake
Dictatorship, democracy and capitalism take different forms across Southeast Asia. Compare political systems and test how economic change, social movements and institutions shape them.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Enrol by
- 18 July 2027
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 15 weeks
- Start dates
- 26 July 2027
- Price from
- $2,257
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Democracy, Dictatorship and Capitalism
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Demonstrate strong conceptual understanding of theories of political and economic change.
- Analyse contemporary problems in regime politics by applying theories of political and economic change to case studies.
- Construct evidence-based arguments, clearly and persuasively communicated, using a variety of sources, that explain political and economic change in a given context in a way that acknowledges complexity.
- Debate theories of political and economic change across diverse cultural contexts.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
What causes dictatorships to crumble or reconsolidate? What drives large scale political movements for democratisation? And how does democracy become “the only game in town”? In this unit, we will examine a range of theories of regime change and democratisation, including transitions theory, social movement theory and state developmentalism. The dominant theory has been that capitalist development not only brings about the demise of authoritarian or despotic political systems but provides a fertile ground for strong democracy institutions, as Southeast Asia’s numerous democratisations have demonstrated. But can we continue to argue for the perfect marriage of capitalism and democracy? Doesn’t Southeast Asia also show us that capitalism and authoritarianism can work equally well? In this unit, we examine the complex relationships between dictatorship, democracy and capitalism and what the lessons of Southeast Asia have to tell us about where those relationship might be heading in Western democracies.
Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.
Assessment in this subject includes an exam. Majority of OUA students will be required to complete their final exam remotely online (Remote eExam) via myMurdoch Learning (LMS), using Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor. You will require a device meeting the minimum standards with a webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection and perform a one-time installation of ‘Respondus LockDown Browser’ using the unique Murdoch link. You are required to complete the mandatory practice quiz before the start of the exam period to ensure a smooth experience on the day. More information regarding Respondus can be found on the Remote eExam page: https://goto.murdoch.edu.au/RemoteExams
- Weekly quiz on lectures/readings (30%)
- Research Essay (35%)
- Oral Invigilated Examination (35%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Others
To enrol in this subject, you must have passed a minimum of 12 credit points at 100-level.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMUR-BAR-DEG
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