Unit name | Global Civil Society |
---|---|
Unit code | SPAIM0019 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Perez-Solorzano Borragan |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit studies the role of civil society in global governance by, analysing the normative democratic added value of civil society organisations in contributing to democracy through their interaction with governance institutions within and above the state. Drawing on alternative theories of democracy and existing empirical evidence, the unit assesses the promises and pitfalls of this vision. Additionally the unit studies the institutional arrangements available for civil society participation in global governance with a focus on the mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability and representation. The unit also assesses the sources of legitimacy of civil society actors, with a focus on their ability to facilitate the participation and empowerment of marginalized groups, their financial and political independence and the increasing tension between professionalization and constituency representation.
The unit aims to allow students to develop an understanding of what civil society is and what it is not; how it is organised; how it relates to global governance; how it engages in policy-making; and what role it may play in fostering good governance. Students will become familiar with key debates drawn for the academic literature and relevant case-studies. Students will engage critically with these debates and seek to identify their own position and viewpoints within those debates
After completing this units students will have acquired:
Seminars. During the 2-hour seminars the weekly topic will be introduced by the seminar teacher and students will engage in intellectual discussion through individual presentations and by addressing the proposed issues for debate through selected exercises such as group work.
Formative Assessment: Seminar Presentation (10 minutes) (learning outcomes 2, 4 and 5).
Summative Assessment: Essay (3,500 – 4,000 words in length) 100% of mark. A candidate cannot write an assessed essay on the same topic as a seminar presentation (learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).