GV317-6-SP-CO:
Corruption

The details
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
25 April 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

In this module, we'll examine corruption, a global problem that is present in dictatorships as well as democracies, in developing and more developed societies alike. In particular, we'll focus on the impact of corruption on democratic regimes.

At the extreme, corruption hampers economic development, reinforces social inequality, and undermine democratic development generally. We start by defining corruption and discuss alternative tools to evaluate the extent of corruption within a given polity. We'll then examine the causes and consequence of corruption (both political and bureaucratic). Last, but not least, we'll evaluate existing strategies to contain and control this problem.

The module is meant to encourage students to think on their own, while ensuring that their thoughts are coherent and logically sound. At the end of the class, students should be able to articulate cogent answers to questions such as: Can corruption lead to positive economic outcomes? How does corruption affect the wellbeing of citizens and their satisfaction with democracy?

Module aims

The module aims to introduce students to the topic of political and bureaucratic corruption, a global problem that is present in dictatorships as well as democracies, in developing and more developed societies alike.

Module learning outcomes

The module is meant to encourage students to think on their own, while ensuring that their thoughts are coherent and logically sound. At the end of the module, students should be able to articulate cogent answers to questions such as: Can corruption lead to positive economic outcomes? How does corruption affect the wellbeing of citizens and their satisfaction with democracy?

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be taught over 2 hours per week

Bibliography*

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Online test    50% 
Coursework   Essay    50% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Ximena Velasco Guachalla, email: vv20291@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Ximena Velasco Guachalla
Please contact govquery@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Edward Morgan-Jones
University of Kent
Reader in Comparative Politics
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Government

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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