School of Slavonic and East European Studies

SESS0016
Understanding Politics I

Main Exam Period

2023/2024

Exam Duration: 2 HRS

Instructions:

Answer 3 questions in total. Each questions corresponds to one of the

module topics.
Please make sure you refer to scholarly literature from the module
reading list in each of your answers. You are welcome to also refer to
literature from beyond the reading list in order to supplement (but not
to replace) your core references.
You do not need to provide a bibliography at the end of your answer,
but you should indicate the approximate year of publication in
brackets after the name of the author. You will not be penalised for
mistakes in approximating the year of publication.
Example: “Philosopher Achille Mbembe (2019), argues that …”
You are welcome to refer to case studies in each of your answers, but
it is advisable to limit the number of case studies discussed in each
answer to one or two. At least one case study discussed in your
answer should lie within the SSEES region; but you are welcome also
to bring in examples from beyond the SSEES region for the purpose of
comparison.

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 School of Slavonic and East European Studies

1. Briefly outline a major political event in 2023 or 2024. Propose and discuss
two “normative” and two “positive” statements about the event. Explain why
the statements are normative/positive.

2. The concept of "post-socialism" is obsolete. Discuss, with reference to the

literature on area studies and the SSEES region.

3. Explain the difference between de facto and de jure states. Discuss examples
of states that are de facto but not de jure (and vice versa).

4. “Some nations are more imagined than others.” Discuss, with reference to the
literature on nations and nationalism; and/or with reference to one or two case
studies.

5. "We need to cut off the King's head. In political theory this is yet to be done."
Discuss, with reference to the theoretical literature on power, agency and
resistance; andth reference to one or two case studies.

6. How do contemporary political systems blend rational-bureaucratic,

charismatic, and neo-traditional legitimacy? Give concise examples from both
authoritarian and democratic regimes of institutions, politicians or events that
illustrate such blending.

7. Discuss critically Hannah Arendt’s argument that "the identification of freedom

with sovereignty is perhaps the most pernicious and dangerous consequence
of the political equation of freedom and free will”.

8. What are the benefits and limitations of public apologies for human rights
violations?

9. What are some of the existing approaches to addressing economic inequality?

10. What are the key principles of democratic governance?

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