'Putin’s United Russia and Xi Jinping’s CCP are both elite clubs, devoid of ideology or democratic processes.’ Discuss.

The essay will be marked on the following general criteria:

1. Argumentation and writing: 50%.

Make sure that your argument is sustained throughout the essay. You should make a case in your essay, rather than simply telling a story. Keep your essay focused on the proposition. ‘Discuss’ means discuss the validity of the proposition, not a series of tangential observations. Look carefully at the precise words of the proposition (which is to be the title of the essay), and make sure that your entire essay is a response to it. At the very least, your essay should have a clear statement in the opening paragraphs along the lines of: 'This essay argues that…' followed by an assertion that relates clearly to the proposition, and that is substantiated in the rest of the essay.

At all costs, avoid digressions from the topic. Imagine, as you are writing, that you are trying to convince an extremely sceptical reader of your viewpoint. Try to show an awareness of possible contrary arguments, particularly in the opening.

An essay without a clear argument is extremely unlikely to get above a H3.

Make sure that each paragraph addresses a specific idea. Usually, this idea will be clearly set out in the opening sentence (the topic sentence).

2. Research: 50%

Research should include at least 7 secondary sources (either refereed academic articles or academic books).

Short book reviews and articles on the internet may provide useful information, but they will not count towards the 7 secondary sources

Make sure that your research demonstrates engagement with the course. Listen to the lectures most relevant to the topic, and review the required and additional readings for that week.

Each of the following propositions and questions can be answered in many ways. There is no prescribed, ‘correct’ answer.

The list of suggested issues that follows each proposition is intended as a starting point for your research and to give you a sense of the possibilities of the topic. It is not intended as a structure or as a comprehensive guide for your response. Do NOT use the topics as subheadings.

1. 'Putin’s United Russia and Xi Jinping’s CCP are both elite clubs, devoid of ideology or democratic processes.’ Discuss.

Issues you might address include:

• Gel'man's analysis of the party of power as an instrument for state control over political life (Vladimir Gel'man, 'Party Politics in Russia: From Competition to Hierarchy,' Europe-Asia Studies, 2008, vol.60, N6, pp.913-930)
• The non-ideological character of United Russia and the continuing relevance of the Maoist heritage for the CCP
• The role of United Russia in a managed political system, and the CCP’s uncontested domination of PRC politics
• Brødsgaard’s account of the CCP’s transformation of the CCP from a mass party to an elite party (Brødsgaard, Kjeld Erik, 'China’s Communist Party: From Mass to Elite Party,' China report (New Delhi), 2018, Vol.54 (4), p.385-402)