6110.23 - Democracy in theory and in practice


Course number
6110.23
Title
Democracy in theory and in practice
ECTS
10
Prerequisites
Upper secondary education or equivalent qualification.
Purpose
That the student will acquire a thorough understanding of Democracy theory, concepts, and as a phenomenon.
Content
In this course, we will study what democracy is, its origin in ancient Greece, and different perspectives on contemporary Democracy. During the course, students will learn about different competing perspectives on Democracy (e.g. Liberal-, Constitutional-, Republican-, and Deliberative Democracy), democratic theories and models, and how democratic institutions work in practice. We will also look at the role of political parties and non-governmental organisations (e.g. media and interest organisations), and discuss some of the main challenges facing Democracy in the 21th century.
Learning and teaching approaches
The course is 30 hours, and consists of lectures, group-work, and student presentations
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student shall be able to: • Explain what Democracy as a governing system is, and where it originated. • Explain the different perspectives on Democracy, taught during the course, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. • Analyze how democracy works based on knowledge about democratic models and institutions • Describe the role of political actors in a democratic system. • Be able to asses relevant democratic issues in the contemporary society in a conscious and reasoned way
Assessment method
Written exam (5 hours).
Marking scale
7-
Bibliography
Approximately 1.000-1.200 pages.
Contact
Jógvan Dalbø Hansen