Course: Modern Theory of Democracy

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Course title Modern Theory of Democracy
Course code KFHS/P532
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminary
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šimsa Martin, PhDr. Ph.D.
Course content
The thematic plan of the course: 1. What is democracy? Ancient, Roman and modern democracy. Pericles, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Polybius. People, democracy, republic. 2. Modern pre-democratic thinkers: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Montesquieu, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Constant. Classical and modern democracy 3. Modern democratic revolutions: British, French, American and their interpreters and critics: Burke, Tocqueville, Arendt 4. Modern liberal democracy: Tocqueville, Mill 5. The Open Society and their enemies and critics. Popper's fallibilistic critique of classical theory. Who is to rule? How to get rid of bad government without bloodshed? 6. Procedural, non-classical, elitist theory of democracy according to Schumpeter. 7. Berlin: Negative and positive freedom. Hayek: The Libertarian Concept of Freedom and Democracy. 8. A new theory of justice based on a new, more general theory of the social contract: Rawls. 9. Communitarian and libertarian criticism of Rawls' theory of justice: Nozick, Sandel, Walzer, Taylor. 10. Rawls: Political Liberalism and the Cosmopolitan Law of Nations 11. Deliberative theory of democracy: Bessette, Cohen, Habermas, Talisse 12. Republican, neo-Roman concept of democracy: Pettit, Skinner, Sunstein 13. Multiple, plural modernity and multiple, plural democracy: Eisenstadt, Arnason.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The course is focused on the genesis, assumptions and concepts of democracy, new theories, their criticism, mutual comparison and dialogue between them. The goal is to map and critically examine individual concepts and theories, discover and highlight their strengths and weaknesses.
The student will gain an overview of the basic terms, concepts and theories of modern democracy. They acquire the conceptual equipment needed to understand democratical theory and practice. They will learn to argue independently. They acquire the ability to understand texts and think independently.
Prerequisites
None

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
Oral seminar paper Written seminar paper Exam
Recommended literature
  • Arendt. O revoluci. Praha, 2009.
  • Arnason, J. P. Labyrinth of Modernity. Horizons, Pathways, and Mutations.. New York, 2020.
  • Eisenstad, S. N. Paradoxes of Democracy. Fragility, Continuity, and Change. Washington, 1999.
  • Elkins, J. and Norris, A. Truth and Democracy. Philadephia, 2012.
  • Habermas, Shapiro. Teorie demokracie dnes. Praha, 2002.
  • Pettit, P. Republicanism. A Theory of Freedom and Government. Oxford, New York, 1997.
  • Popper, K. R. Otevřená společnost a její nepřátelé I - II. 1994.
  • Rawls, J. Právo národů. Praha, 2009.
  • Rawls, J. Teorie spravedlnosti. 1995.
  • Schumpeter. Kapitalismus, socialismus a demokracie. Brno, 2004.
  • Skinner, Q. Liberty Before Liberalism. Cambridge, 1998.
  • Sunstein, C. R. Republic.com 2.0.. New Jersey, 2009.
  • Talisse, R. Democracy After Liberalism. Pragmatism and Deliberative Politics. New York, London, 2005.
  • TOCQUEVILLE, de A. Demokracie v Americe, díl I a díl II. Praha, 1992.


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