Course: Teories of parliamentarism and representation

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Course title Teories of parliamentarism and representation
Course code KFHS/K422
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 2
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šmíd Jan, PhDr. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1) Basic definition of terms 2) Direct democracy 3) The concept of parliament from the Middle Ages to the present 4) Theory of representation from Tertullian to T. Hobbes 5) Free mandate and representation (E. Burke) 6) representation and the nation (J.E. Sieyes) 7) criticism of representation by J. J. Rousseau 8) the birth of the modern theory of parliamentarism: W. Bagehot 9) collective versus democratic representation 10) criticism of parliamentarism: from Schmitt to Habermas 11) crisis of parliamentarism in the post-industrial era? 12) new forms of representation

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The course will offer an overview of modern theories of parliamentarism since the Enlightment period until 60´ of 20. century. The theoretical fundaments will be analyzes in the context of the development of ideas of state and society as well as in the context of real existence of parliamentary bodies. The course will be concentrated on the understanding of the role of parlliaments in different approaches to the parliamentary democracy, the division of power and the relation between the state and the law. We will also deal analyze different theories of representation in the context of the concept of free mandate. Last but not least, the critique on parliamentarism in the modern era will be one of the major topics of the course.
Students will get following knowledge: - Use of basic concepts of the theory of parliamentarism - Understanding different approaches to the parliamentarism and the representative democracy - Understanding the philosophical and theoretical roots of basic principles of political science - Understanding the implications of different theoretical approaches on the empirical functioning of parliaments as well as of constitutional systems in general
Prerequisites
Understanding the Englis language is a precondition; understanding of German is an advantage.

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Credit interview.
Recommended literature
  • Belling, V. Legitimita moci v postmoderní době. Brno, 2009. ISBN 978-80-210-5081-5.
  • Hobbes Thomas. Leviathan. Praha, 2009. ISBN 978-80-7298-106-9.
  • kelsen, H. Problém parlamentarismu. Praha, 1926.
  • SCHUMPETER, J. A. Kapitalismus, socialismus a demokracie. Praha, 2004. ISBN 80-7325-044-6.
  • Skinner,Q. Hobbes on Representation, in: European Journal of Philosophy, 13, 2005.
  • Voegelin Eric. Nová věda o politice. Brno, 2000.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester