This course examines the nature and value of democracy, and the various roles played by citizens and constitutions in sustaining it. The first part of the course examines different justifications for democracy and different understandings of the nature of the democratic process. The second part of the course focuses on issues of democratic citizenship, such as who should be viewed as a citizen, and whether democratic citizens have duties to obey the law and to vote. The final part of the course studies some of the ways law and politics interact with a particular focus on the relationships between constitutions, judicial review, and democracy.
Teaching Delivery;
The lecture will provide an overview of the week’s topic and the literature that surrounds it. In the seminar, you will discuss the topic in depth with your peers. You will be expected to read around three articles or chapters for each seminar.
This module is open to BSc PIR, BSc PPE, POLSCI Affiliate students. Remaining spaces will be allocated first to ESPS, BASc and then to other external students. Students are encouraged to have taken two prior modules with a strong focus on normative political theory before enrolling in this module -- for example, POLS0061 Justice and POLS0063 Ethics & Public Policy, POLS0006 Introduction to Politics and PHIL0007 Introduction to Political Philosophy, or equivalent. Students are also encouraged to have taken an introductory module with a strong focus on comparative politics, such as POLS0002 Democracy & Authoritarianism or POLS0006 Introduction to Politics.
By the end of the course, you should:
(i) have a clear and comprehensive grasp of the contemporary theoretical literature on democracy, citizenship, and constitutionalism;
(ii) have knowledge of the main theoretical debates around the nature and future of democracy, citizenship, and the constitution in the United States, Britain, and continental European countries;
(iii) be able to construct sustained normative arguments about democracy, citizenship, and constitutions, also using empirical backing where appropriate, and be able to defend them against opposing arguments and perspectives;
(iv) be able to make links between theoretical ideas and empirical information, with particular reference to the democratic politics of the United States, Britain and continental Europe.