Democratic Theories and Institutions
1
2020-2021
03018481
Political Sciences
Portuguese
English
Face-to-face
SEMESTRIAL
10.0
Compulsory
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)
NoSyllabus
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.