Class Theories of Democracy

Democracy is an inherently contestable form of government; consequently, this course unit serves as a prime setting for the critical analysis of: (a) different models of democracy (e.g., conservative, liberal, libertarian, radical, republican); (b) their core and conflicting values ¿¿(e.g., liberty, equality, justice, and property); (c) their fundamental problems and challenges, particularly those arising in contemporary times (e.g., the tyranny of the majority vs. the tyranny of minorities); and, finally, (d) forms of governance alternative to democratic governance (e.g., autocracies).

Not applicable

  CP1. The essential concept of democracy: self-government or rule by the people, and related concepts: liberty, equality, justice, property. CP2. Ancient direct democracy. CP3. Contemporary representative democracy: conservative, liberal, libertarian, republican, and socialist versions. CP4. Alternatives to representative democracy: plebiscitary, participatory, populist, and radical democracies. CP5. African consensual democracy and Chinese meritocratic democracy. CP6. National vs. global democracy. CP7. Contemporary challenges to democracies: polarization, autocratization, tyranny of the majority vs. tyranny of the minority, fake news, climate change, challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and social media. CP8. The contribution of Political Science to analyzing and resolving current problems facing democracies.

  Theory-practice classes featuring the presentation of course content through text excerpts and audiovisual media. These classes will be organized by thematic units in accordance with the syllabus and will involve direct student participation through debates. Such debates require careful reading of the texts: students must bring the texts to class having read, annotated, and reflected upon them. 9.    Assessment   10% Attendance and participation in classroom debates. 30% Written test. 20% Oral presentation. 40% A written paper (3,000-3,500 words) on a topic approved by the instructor. Certification of the grades may require an oral examination.    

  Blaug, R., and Scwarzmantel, J. (eds.). Democracy: A Reader. New York: Columbia University Press, 2016.ISBN 978-0231174138.         Brennan, J., and Landemore, Hélène. Debating Democracy: Do We Need More or Less? New York: Oxford University Press, 2021.ISBN-13. 978-0197540824. Cahn, S., Talisse, R., Forcehimes, A. The Democracy Reader: From Classical to Contemporary Philosophy. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2021.ISBN, 9798881828868.  Carey, C. The Democracy in Classical Athens. London, New York: Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 10: 1474286364   Dryzeck et al. The crisis of democracy and the science of deliberation. Insights. Policy Forum. Science,  363, 2019, pp. 1144-1146. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw2694 Majeed, H. Understanding democracy in Africa: Concept and praxis. The Philosophical Forum, 55(2), pp. 189-201, 2024. Queiroz, R. (ed.). The Value of Democracy in the Twenty-First Century. By the People, for the People. Berlin: Walter De Gruyter, 2026. ISBN, 3111581330