Democratic Theories and Institutions

Year
1
Academic year
2020-2021
Code
03018481
Subject Area
Political Sciences
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
10.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
3rd Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

- Fluency in English

- Knowledge of research tools and techniques in humanities and social sciences

- Knowledge of techniques and styles of academic writing 

Teaching Methods

The course is based on regular classes that include an overview presentation of the topic by the lecturer, and an extensive discussion of the texts by students. Students will be asked to present in class at least one of the compulsory readings, highlighting the principal issues at stake. Individual participation will count for 25% of the final grade. Students should attend at least 60% of all classes. Absences are to be justified. The texts will be available in the section ‘support materials’ of NONIO 

Learning Outcomes

What is democracy? Where does the idea come from? Can democracy be justified and, if so, on what grounds? What are its limits? These and other questions lie at the heart of democratic theory, which helps us to critically reflect on democratic practices. The course offers an introduction to democratic theory by focusing on the contemporary debate, starting in the 20th century. Its four blocks aim to: (1) trace down the most important conceptual theories of democracy and its transformations; (2) look at critical positions and conceptual innovations that called into question the mainstream of democratic theory; (3) scrutinize concrete contexts in which democratic theory has been tested; and (4) explore different scales of democracy, through analyzing its main institutions.

Students who successfully complete this seminar should know and critically analyze core academic texts and political debates in the above mentioned areas.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The first part of this seminar analyses the hegemonic theories of democracy, including the following contents:

Liberal classic democracy

Formal Theories of Democracy

Main Democratic Institutions

Constitutionalism

Democracy and the State of exception

Democracy and Justice

 

The second part of the seminar examines the major theories of counter-hegemonic democracy, including the following contents:

Critical Voices I: for a high-intensity democracy

Critical Voices II: for a radical democracy

Critical Voices III: Deliberative Democracy

Critical Voices IV: Agonistic Democracy

 

The third part is focused on urban democracy theories and practices:

Democracy, regulation and risk

Democracy and Cosmopolitanism

Democracy and the City I: Exploring Urban Citizenship

Democracy and the City II: Participatory and Alternative Approaches

Critical Perspectives on World Citizenship

Civil Society, participatory institutions and representation

Democratic legitimization

Participatory democracy

Head Lecturer(s)

Cristiano Gianolla

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Periodic or by final exam as given in the course information: 100.0%

Bibliography

Barber B.(2004), Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age. University of California Press

 

Bobbio N. (1997), O futuro da democracia. Editora Paz e Terra

 

Dahl R. A. (1998), On democracy. New Haven; Yale University Press

 

Freire A. (2012), O Sistema Político Português, Séculos XIX-XXI. Continuidades e Ruturas. Almedina

 

Habermas J.(1996), “Three Normative Models of Democracy,” in Benhabib S. (ed.), Democracy and Difference. Princeton University Press: pp. 21-30.

 

Held D.(2006, 3rd edition), Models of Democracy. Stanford University Press

 

Lijphart A. (2012), Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms & Performance in Thirty-six Countries, Yale University Press

 

Santos B. (2003), Democratizar a democracia: os caminhos da democracia participativa, Civilização Brasileira

 

Sartori G. (1987), The Theory of Democracy Revisited. Chatham House

 

Taylor C. (2004), “The Politics of Recognition,” in Farrelly C. (ed.), Contemporary Political Theory A Reader. SAGE: pp. 269-281.