GV313-6-SP-CO:
Authoritarianism
2025/26
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
11 August 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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This module is designed to examine one of the biggest challenges to democracy in the contemporary world: authoritarianism. First we will discuss what authoritarianism is and what the most common varieties of authoritarian regimes are. Then we will go over the factors that drive politics in dictatorships and examine how these institutions can help explain the observed variation in autocratic government performance. Last, we will look at the logic of autocratic regime survival and conditions under which democratic transitions are more likely to occur.
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce students to authoritarianism as a regime type and help them gain an understanding of what this regime type is.
- To provide an overview of what the various types of authoritarian regimes are, how domestic politics operate in authoritarian countries, and what influences the survival and stability of authoritarian regimes.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the factors which affect the level of government performance in dictatorships.
- Demonstrate an understanding of why nondemocratic rulers govern with democratic institutions, such as legislatures and political parties.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate information independently and develop coherent and logically sound arguments.
No additional information available.
The module will be delivered via:
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay |
02/03/2026 |
40% |
| Coursework |
In-Class Test |
16/03/2026 |
60% |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Marius Radean, email: mradean@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Marius Radean
Module Supervisor: Dr Marius Radean, mradean@essex.ac.uk / Student Administrator: govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 50 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
50 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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