POL 392 - Contemporary Democratic Theory

This course introduces students to debates in contemporary democratic theory. While we will draw on some historical sources, the focus is on current theories and dilemmas of democratic politics. During the first half of the course, we examine a variety of forms and theories of democracy: minimalist and pluralist; deliberative and representative; agonistic and radical. In the second half, we turn to a set of challenges that democratic politics and polities face today. Topics covered include concerns about the competence of the mass public, now amplified by new media like cable TV and digital platforms; the relationship between democracy, capitalism, and inequality in the context of neoliberalism; legacies of colonialism and racial domination in America; the global rise of illiberal democracy and populist movements; and democracy’s boundary problems, from the legitimacy of “the People,” to immigration and borders. We conclude by considering sources of democratic hope in a time of crisis.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group II
Instructional Method: Conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.