This
course aims at re-examining the theoretical and empirical
underpinnings of democracy and their performance in a period of
crisis and continuing globalization. The course pursues a fourfold
goal. First, it is to provide a general idea of the origins and
evolution of the concept of democracy and its inherent problems and
dilemmas. We will question the classical tension between collective
government and individual liberty, but also look at more contemporary
problems. We will then take a cursory look at contemporary
democracies around the world: what is the recent history of
democracy, its progress, its transformation and its problems. In
particular we want to discuss how globalization has taken an ever
greater share of decisions out of the national political realm to
take to other – trans- or supranational – spheres. We also want
to show discuss how demographics, economic developments and the
increasing budgetary constraints have increasingly limited the
autonomy of government. Third, we will look at the interplay between
citizens on the one hand and their political representatives and
democracy on the other. While we know that the attitudes and
convictions of citizens are not decisive for the advent and
consolidation of democracy, there are several tendencies that may be
important for the future of democracy. The role of the media will
receive special attention here, as well the rise of far-right and
other anti-systemic parties.
Finally
we will devote time to solutions and remedies: are the examples to
follow? Can democracy be re-invented and adapted to changing
contexts? The idea of this final section is to ask questions and to
look for interesting examples of renewal, rather than to provide
answers.
The
public lecture will be devoted to the interaction and tensions
between the evolution of capitalism and the future of democracy. We
will concentrate in particular on govenments' strategies and voters'
reactions since the beginning of the financial and sovereign debt
crises in 2008. We will focus in particular on the electoral success
of 'new' parties and the decline of 'old' forces.
The
main objective of this course is to provide students with a set of
conceptual and empirical tools and tomorrow push them to develop a
personal analysis about the future of one of the fundamental
principles of contemporary political systems. The idea is to expose
them to particular arguments and analytical frameworks from different
disciplines (political science, sociology, economics, philosophy).
Assignments
and grading
Seminar
participants are expected to write a small research project. The idea
is to develop a personal research question and to assemble a number
of documents, data and other sources on this subject, as well as a
detailed outline explaining how the project is to be carried out.
Term papers will be presented and discussed during a 2-day seminar on
July 10 and 11.
Academic
integrity and quotation policy
I
pay strong attention to academic integrity (plagiarism etc.) and
correct quoting. I will distribute a document at the beginning of the
seminar concerning academic integrity.
Seminar
1 – April 10, 2015
This
seminar will discuss the historical foundations of liberal democracy.
It will discuss its ancient and more recent elements. This will be
confronted with the political struggles that established liberal
democracies, especially in Europe. Finally, we will survey the
variety of institutional configurations of contemporary political
systems and the trade-offs they operate between the different goals
and constraints of liberal democracy.
PDF presentation for Seminar 1
PDF presentation for Seminar 1
Required
reading:
Seminar
2 – April 24, 2015
The
problem of policymaking autonomy and its consequences
We
will look at the challenges to policymaking autonomy that
contemporary democracies are facing. Economic globalization is a
first major challenge, strongly diminishing the ability of government
to steer national economies. Attacks on central government power,
however, also took place on the domestic arena, as public finances
and economic growth deteriorated. Finally, this appears to be having
serious consequences for the outputs and outcomes of policymaking in
liberal democracies, as post-war social-democratic bargains were
terminated. Inequality and dualization are haunting advanced
industrial democracies.
PDF presentation for Seminar 2
PDF presentation for Seminar 2
Required
reading:
- Crum, Ben. "Saving the Euro at the Cost of Democracy?." JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies (2013). (This paper is not publicly available. You may find it either through your university network or a common folder that I will make available).
Seminar
3 – April 30, 2015
Citizens
and the crisis of democracy
Citizens
have become more and more distrustful over time – if not of
democracy – of the politicians and institutions supposed to embody
democracy. While declining turnout was long not a major problem,
increasing volatility is leading to rapid restructuring of party
system, almost systematic de-election of incumbents and, thus, rising
policy instability. The emergence of populist parties on the right,
but also on the left is making the very business of government more
and more difficult, as majorities are becoming more difficult to
find.
PDF presentation for Seminar 3
PDF presentation for Seminar 3
Required
reading:
- Mazzoleni, G., & Schulz, W. (1999). " Mediatization" of politics: A challenge for democracy?. Political Communication, 16(3), 247-261. (Not available, cf. supra)
Seminar
4 – May 12, 2015
Contemporary
capitalism and the future of democracy
This
lecture will look at the gap between the performance of contemporary
democracies and citizens/voters' expectations. We will look at some
recent examples of restructuring of political competition to better
understand were democracies in Europe (and the rest of the
industrialized world) is headed. Possibly, depending on the political
context, we may realize a first stocktaking exercise after the likely
success of new political forces such as Syriza in Greece and Podemos
in Spain.
Required
reading:
Workshop
– July 10 & 11, 2015
Student presentations
Student presentations
Topics
of student presentations are proposed by students, based on course
material and are to be sent by email by May 1st,
2015. I will send out individual feedback for each proposal. There will be office hours on the afternoon of May 12 for those wanting more feedback.
Presenters are expected to prepare handouts or additional readings to be handed/sent to the rest of seminar attendants at least a week in advance.
Presenters are expected to prepare handouts or additional readings to be handed/sent to the rest of seminar attendants at least a week in advance.
I will fix the exact schedule once the topics of student presentations
have been established.
Final
papers and grading
The
final papers should take into account the issues raised and
discussions during the workshop. They are to be sent in by July 20,
11.59 pm, to this address: emiliano.grossman.scpo@analyse.urkund.com
and/or satisfy other plagiarism control procedures at the Uni Köln.
Essays
should not exceed 5000 words, everything
included (i.e.
references, appendix etc.). There will be penalties for essays handed in late and NO essay will be accepted after July 25. Presentations
and class participation will account for 30% of the final grade (including discussion of other papers), the
papers for 70%.