MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response / Course details

Sample topics: 
(1) The value of democracy 
(2) Deliberation and Voting
(3) The Boundary Problem 
(4) Elections vs Sortition
(6) How do we measure democracy?
(7) Are there preconditions for democratic governance?
(8) How do we promote and reproduce citizens’ engagement?
(9) How do we ensure people’s effective voice?
(10) Is democracy in crisis?

The aim of this course is to examine democracy through both normative and empirical frameworks in order to gain an understanding of its nature and essential features, while also appreciating some of the contemporary challenges democratic societies must face. In particular, the course examines the following key questions: Why is democracy valuable? What values underlie the ideal democratic system? How are we to best implement those values? What demands does democracy place upon those within it (citizens, voters, officials)? How do we best ensure that these expectations are fulfilled? What is the extent of democratic authority – how and when might it be permissibly challenged? How can we ensure that an effective connection between voters and politicians is maintained? How can democratic ideals of equal representation be fulfilled in practice? Are our political institutions genuinely democratic? Can we do more to protect, deepen or nurture democratic practice.The course addresses these and further questions by looking both at insights of democratic theory and at the empirical study of democratic institutions.

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to: Understand the key normative ideas that underlie democratic theory, and demonstrate this understanding by applying these insights to solving contemporary practical problems.

10 x 2 hour seminars

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to demonstrate:• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the values and goals underlying democratic theory.• An ability to identify and describe the complex problems that arise in the implementation of 
democracy at the local, national and international levels.• Show an in-depth critical knowledge of the attempts to solve various contemporary problems associated with democratic theory and its application.•  The ability to critically reflect on the contemporary  debates concerning the democratic deficit, the representation of minorities in a liberal democratic society, teaching civic skills in schools especially those concerned with inculcating the values of democracy, the effect of different electoral systems on the 
realisation of democratic values and ideals.• To articulate and defend their own position vis à vis the value and importance of democratic values and their practical implementation at the local,national and international arenas. 

One essay of 2,000 words (75%), critical review 1000 words (25%).

Preliminary Reading:

• Beetham, D. (2005) Democracy: A Beginner’s Guide (Oxford: One World Publications)
• Blais, Andre (2000) To Vote or Not to Vote: The Merits and Limits of Rational Choice Theory (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press).
• Christiano, Thomas (ed.) (2003) Philosophy and Democracy (Oxford: OUP)
• Dahl, Robert. (2000) On Democracy (New Haven: Yale UP)
• Eliasoph, N. (1998) Avoiding Politics: How Americans Produce Apathy in Everyday Life (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)
• Fasulo, L. (2004) An Insider's Guide to the United Nations (New York; UNDP)
• Goodin, R. & Pettit, P. (1997) Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell).
• Gutmann, Amy and Dennis Thompson. Democracy and Disagreement (Cambridge: Harvard UP)
• Milner, Henry (2002) Civic Literacy: How Informed Citizens Make Democracy Work (Hanover: University Press of New England).
• Parkinson, John. (2006) Deliberating in the Real World: Problems of Legitimacy in Deliberative Democracy (Oxford: OUP)
• Pattie, C., Seyd, P.  & Whiteley, P.  (2003) "Citizenship and Civic Engagement: Attitudes and Behaviour in Britain" Political Studies 51, 443-68.
• Putnam, Robert (2000) Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community (New York: Simon & Schuster).
• Russell, Andrew; Fieldhouse, Ed; Kalra, Virinder & Purdam, Kingsley. (2003) Electoral Commission: Research Report "Voter Engagement & Young People"
• Shapiro, Ian (2003) The State of Democratic Theory (Princeton: Princeton University Press)
• Skocpol, Theda & Fiorina, Morris (eds.) (1999) Civic Engagement in American Democracy (Washington/New York: Brookings Institute/Russell Sage Foundation,).
• United Nations Development Programme Website: Online: http://www.undp.org/governance/
• Wattenberg, Martin (2002) Where Have All The Voters Gone? (Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press).

Timetable