Democracy And Good Governance
- Social Sciences
- 700 level
- 3 credit units
- 163 pages
- 20 units
This course introduces students to the core concepts of democracy and good governance, emphasizing their crucial role in building peaceful societies. It explores the institutional dimensions of democracy, including constitutionalism, separation of powers, and multi-party systems. The course also examines attitudinal and behavioral ingredients, such as tolerance and pluralism, and addresses key barriers to democracy in African states, offering strategies for overcoming these challenges and promoting good governance in Nigeria.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 200 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assessments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of PCR712, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
PCR712 · MODULE 1: CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
Is a relatively new concept, having entered the political lexicon in the 1970s and 1980s as a large number of underdeveloped countries were struggling to deal with the political and economic problems which poor political leadership had generated for their countries.
What you should be able to do
- Define democracy and good governance and explain their importance in building peaceful societies.
- Analyze the institutional dimensions of democracy, including constitutionalism, separation of powers, and multi-party systems.
- Evaluate the attitudinal and behavioral ingredients of democracy, such as tolerance and pluralism.
- Identify key barriers to democracy in African states and develop strategies for overcoming them.
- Apply the principles of good governance in the Nigerian context.
- Promote accountability and transparency in government.
- Understand the importance of due process and the rule of law.
What it prepares you for
- Policy Analyst
- Governance Expert
- Conflict Resolution Specialist
- Political Advisor
- Civil Society Leader
- Government
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- International Development
- Civil Service
- Political Consulting
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: The Institutional Dimensions of Democracy and good Governance
Unit 3: The principle of checks and balances
Understanding the intricate balance between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches requires careful analysis and critical thinking.
- Module 3: The Attitudinal and Behavioural Ingredients of Democracy and Good Governance
Unit 1: Tolerance for divergent and opposing views liberalism
Internalizing the values of tolerance and pluralism requires a shift in mindset and a willingness to embrace diverse perspectives.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 117 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Conceptual Foundations of Democracy and good governance
Unit 1: Defining democracy and good governance · 5 hours
Define democracy and good governance, exploring their interconnectedness.. Discuss the historical and contemporary relevance of these concepts.. Analyze different definitions and interpretations of democracy..
Unit 2: Democracy and Good Governance: The Rule of Law · 4 hours
Examine the rule of law as a cornerstone of democracy and good governance.. Discuss its importance in ensuring justice and equality.. Analyze case studies where the rule of law has been upheld or violated..
- Week 2Module 1: Conceptual Foundations of Democracy and good governance
Unit 3: Democracy, good governance: economic development · 5 hours
Explore the relationship between democracy, good governance, and economic development.. Discuss how democratic principles can foster economic growth.. Analyze the role of government in promoting economic opportunities..
Unit 4: Democracy, good governance: building a peaceful society · 4 hours
Discuss how democracy and good governance contribute to building a peaceful society.. Analyze the role of inclusive governance in preventing conflict.. Explore strategies for promoting peace and reconciliation..
- Week 3Module 2: The Institutional Dimensions of Democracy and good Governance
Unit 1: Constitutionalism as the foundation · 5 hours
Examine constitutionalism as the foundation of democracy and good governance.. Discuss the importance of a written constitution.. Analyze the key elements of a modern constitution..
Unit 2: The separation of powers · 4 hours
Explore the principle of separation of powers.. Discuss its role in preventing tyranny and abuse of power.. Analyze the different branches of government and their respective functions..
- Week 4Module 2: The Institutional Dimensions of Democracy and good Governance
Unit 3: The principle of checks and balances · 5 hours
Examine the principle of checks and balances.. Discuss its importance in ensuring accountability and preventing abuse of power.. Analyze examples of checks and balances in action..
Unit 4: The multi party system · 4 hours
Explore the multi-party system as a key element of democracy.. Discuss its role in promoting political competition and representation.. Analyze the different types of party systems and their impact on governance..
- Week 5Module 3: The Attitudinal and Behavioural Ingredients of Democracy and Good Governance
Unit 1: Tolerance for divergent and opposing views liberalism · 5 hours
Discuss the importance of tolerance for divergent and opposing views in a democracy.. Analyze the concept of liberalism and its role in promoting tolerance.. Explore strategies for fostering a culture of tolerance..
Unit 2: A pluralistic concept of society · 4 hours
Examine the concept of a pluralistic society.. Discuss its role in promoting diversity and inclusion.. Analyze the challenges and opportunities of governing a pluralistic society..
- Week 6Module 3: The Attitudinal and Behavioural Ingredients of Democracy and Good Governance
Unit 3: Popular and majority opinions · 5 hours
Explore the role of popular and majority opinions in a democracy.. Discuss the importance of public participation in decision-making.. Analyze the challenges of balancing majority rule with minority rights..
Unit 4: Peaceful resolution of disputes · 4 hours
Discuss the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes in a democracy.. Analyze different mechanisms for resolving conflicts peacefully.. Explore strategies for promoting dialogue and reconciliation..
- Week 7Module 4: Key barriers to Democracy and good Governance in African states
Unit 1: Economic underdevelopment and mass poverty. · 5 hours
Examine economic underdevelopment and mass poverty as barriers to democracy.. Discuss the impact of poverty on political participation.. Analyze strategies for promoting economic development and reducing poverty..
Unit 2: Centralisation of economic and political power · 4 hours
Discuss the impact of centralized economic and political power on democracy.. Analyze the challenges of decentralizing power.. Explore strategies for promoting greater local autonomy..
- Week 8Module 4: Key barriers to Democracy and good Governance in African states
Unit 3: Corruption in its various ramifications · 5 hours
Examine corruption in its various forms as a barrier to democracy.. Discuss the impact of corruption on governance and development.. Analyze strategies for combating corruption..
Unit 4: Negative historical antecedents. · 4 hours
Discuss the impact of negative historical antecedents on democracy.. Analyze how past events can shape present-day challenges.. Explore strategies for overcoming negative legacies..
- Week 9Module 5: Building Democracy and good Governance in Nigeria
Unit 1: A focus on the people · 5 hours
Discuss the importance of focusing on the people in building democracy.. Analyze how to empower citizens and promote their participation.. Explore strategies for ensuring that government is responsive to the needs of the people..
Unit 2: Decentralisation of economic and political power · 4 hours
Examine the importance of decentralizing economic and political power.. Discuss the benefits of local autonomy and self-governance.. Analyze strategies for promoting decentralization..
- Week 10Module 5: Building Democracy and good Governance in Nigeria
Unit 3: Ensuring accountability · 5 hours
Discuss the importance of ensuring accountability in government.. Analyze different mechanisms for promoting accountability.. Explore strategies for holding public officials responsible for their actions..
Unit 4: The application of due process. · 4 hours
Examine the importance of applying due process in government.. Discuss the benefits of transparency and fairness.. Analyze strategies for ensuring that government follows established procedures..
- Week 11Module 1: Conceptual Foundations of Democracy and good governance
Unit 1-4: Review of Conceptual Foundations · 9 hours
Review Module 1 units 1-4. Complete assignment 1.
- Week 12Module 2: The Institutional Dimensions of Democracy and good Governance
Unit 1-4: Review of Institutional Dimensions · 9 hours
Review Module 2 units 1-4. Complete assignment 2.
- Week 13Modules 3, 4 and 5: Review
Unit 1-4: Review of Attitudinal, Barriers and Building Blocks · 9 hours
Review Modules 3, 4 and 5 units 1-4. Complete assignments 3 and 4.
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed outlines for each module, focusing on key concepts and definitions.
- Develop flashcards for important terms and principles, such as 'separation of powers' and 'rule of law'.
- Practice essay questions on topics like 'barriers to democracy in Africa' and 'building good governance in Nigeria'.
- Review case studies from the course materials to understand real-world applications of democratic principles.
- Form a study group to discuss challenging concepts and share insights.
- Allocate specific time slots for each module, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all units.
- Prioritize understanding the interconnectedness of concepts across modules, such as the relationship between economic development and democracy.
- Focus on the Nigerian context, paying attention to specific examples and challenges discussed in the course.
- Practice time management during mock exams to simulate the actual exam environment.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback provided by the tutor.
Questions students ask about this course
What is PCR712 about?
This course introduces students to the core concepts of democracy and good governance, emphasizing their crucial role in building peaceful societies. It explores the institutional dimensions of democracy, including constitutionalism, separation of powers, and multi-party systems. The course also examines attitudinal and behavioral ingredients, such as tolerance and pluralism, and addresses key barriers to democracy in African states, offering strategies for overcoming these challenges and promoting good governance in Nigeria.
How many units does PCR712 have?
PCR712, Democracy And Good Governance, has 20 units across 5 modules, over 163 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is PCR712?
PCR712 carries 3 credit units, at 700 level in Social Sciences.
Is PCR712 hard?
PCR712 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does PCR712 take to study?
About 200 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.
How is PCR712 assessed?
PCR712 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.
What can I do with PCR712?
Policy Analyst, Governance Expert, Conflict Resolution Specialist, Political Advisor and Civil Society Leader.