Theories of Democracy 2102-ANG-M-D1TODE

The course is meant to help participants understand the phenomenon of democracy as the seemingly most legitimate and preferred system of government in the contemporary world, though one often conceived in various, sometimes incompatible ways. It will familiarise students with the multiplicity of interpretations of democracy, the variety of theoretical models, and critical approaches to this system and its philosophical and ideological foundations.

It is assumed that at the master's level students already have some preliminary knowledge of democracy. The course will build on this foundation, aiming to broaden, deepen, and structure students' knowledge in such a way as to re-emphasise the theoretical relevance and political topicality of democracy, and to allow a better understanding of its complexity and ambiguity.

The seminar will adopt an integrated approach to democracy: historical reflections on the origins and evolution of democratic forms will be closely linked to the reconstruction and analysis of the main theoretical models. A thorough characterisation of their philosophical and ideological premises is intended to give students a proper understanding of the various interpretations of and approaches to democracy, and ultimately to enable them to confront theoretical assumptions with the practice of democracy (these issues of applicability will be covered by other courses within the Graduate Programme).

The various models of democracy, both historical and contemporary, will be discussed mainly with reference to D. Held's Models of Democracy, which will serve as our main textbook.

Special emphasis will be placed on the seminal nature of J. Schumpeter's and M. Weber's conceptions of democracy, as well as on the significance of later disputes about the development of forms of democratic participation and deliberation, the extent of possible consensus, and the role of antagonism in different varieties of the democratic system. With regard to the recent past, the development of techniques and technologies, especially information and communication technology and mass media, and their impact on the extent and quality of democratic participation will be discussed. Another important issue is the impact of contemporary civilisational and cultural changes, processes of regional integration, globalisation, and cosmopolitanisation.

Much attention will be paid to the manifestations and consequences of the processes of "massification" of democracy in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the relationship between democracy and nationalism, interpretations of the phenomenon of populism, the role of civil society, and issues of trust and social capital in a democratic system.

Finally, we will discuss selected critiques of democratic ideas and practice, both ancient (Plato, Aristotle) and contemporary (leftist, anarchist, republican, monarchist).

Such an open approach is meant to show the unique place of democracy in the broad context of endless disputes about human nature and social relations, the role of the state, and the nature of power.