The crisis of liberal democracy. Contemporary debates 1600-SZD-SPEC-KDL-PA
The seminar aims to analyse selected issues related to the crisis of liberal democracy. Rather than treating the idea of crisis as an indisputable fact, I will consider it as an element of rhetoric in the contemporary discussion on liberal democracy. The following issues will be discussed during the seminar:1. Liberalism and democracy: the combination of democracy and liberalism is not obvious and can be considered historically accidental. The intellectual similarities and contradictions between liberalism and democracy will be discussed during the seminar.2. The theory of mass society. Some versions of this theory are considered to delegitimise democracy. Democracy, presented as the rule of the masses or the crowd, is considered by supporters of this theory to be the opposite of a rational system. The discussion will reflect on the cognitive value of this theory.3. Democracy in the therapeutic culture. The theory of therapeutic culture provides a new context for democracy. Its anthropological ideas and views on freedom and security change the way democracy is understood. The discussion will address the question of whether the changes introduced by therapeutic culture allow us to maintain our belief in liberal democracy.4. Liberalism in the woke culture. The woke culture, with its characteristic censorship practices and treatment of Western tradition as a history of oppression, is a phenomenon that raises questions about the place of liberalism in the new reality. Is this culture an expression of the negation of liberalism, or is it its logical continuation?5. Liberal democracy and the nation state. Liberal democracy emerged within the nation state, and the concept of the people is often equated with that of the nation. This seminar will explore the relationship between democratic theory and nationalism. What prospects are opened up for the theory and practice of democracy by a realities in which the nation state is no longer the main form of political organisation and the nation is no longer synonymous with the people?
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge | The graduate knows and understands:
WG_01 - to the extent necessary for existing paradigms to be revised - a worldwide body of work, covering theoretical foundations as well as general and selected specific issues - relevant to a particular discipline
within the social sciences
WG_02 - the main development trends in the disciplines of the social sciences in which the education is provided
WG_03 - scientific research methodology in the field of the social sciences
WK_01 - fundamental dilemmas of modern civilisation from the perspective of the social sciences
Skills | The graduate is able to:
UK_05 - speaking a foreign language at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages using the professional terminology specific to the discipline within the social sciences, to the extent enabling participation in an international scientific and professional environment
Social competences | The graduate is ready to
KO_01 - fulfilling the social obligations of researchers and creators
KO_02 - fulfilling social obligations and taking actions in the public interest, in particular in initiating actions in the public interest
KO_03 - think and acting in an entrepreneurial manner
And others: Knowledge:- The student has knowledge of various interpretations of liberal democracy;- The student has knowledge of the most important ideas related to the discussion of liberal democracy; Skills: - The student critically compares various interpretations of concepts such as representation, political myth, sovereignty, therapeutic culture, mass society;- The student explains the relationship between the understanding of specific concepts and their role in political discourse; Social competences:- The student is able to formulate competent opinions on the values and epistemological concepts present in political discussions.
Assessment criteria
Description of requirements related to participation in classes, including the permitted number of explained absences: - Attendance at the seminar. One absence is permitted.- Knowledge of the assigned readings.- Active participation in discussions.
Principles for passing the classes and the subject (including resit session): -essay-review
Methods for the verification of learning outcomes: seminar discussion
Evaluation criteria: - contribution to the seminar discussion; - assessment of the essay-review
Bibliography
1. F. Furedi, Democracy Under Siege: Don't Let Them Lock It Down!, Zero Books, 2000.2. J. V. Femia, Against the Masses. Varieties of Anti-Democratic Thought since the French Revolution, Oxford University Press, 2001. 3. R. N. Bellah i in., Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life, University of California Press, 2007.4. J. Gray, The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023.5. M. Canovan, Nationhood and Political Theory, Edward Elgar 1996.
Additional information
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