STV4105 – Democracy: From Theory to Practice
Course content
Why did so many people throughout history decide that political power should be exercised democratically? Is democracy actually the best form of government? If so, which type of democracy? For millennia, different strands of democratic theory have arisen, shaping how democracy emerges, survives, declines, and re-emerges within nation-states. In this course, we begin by looking at how democratic theory related to the appearance of nation-states and its project of maintaining political power. Then we turn to how different theories of democracy impacted nation-state democratization in the 20th Century, transpiring in widespread liberal democracy efforts. After we look at how current crises, such as globalization, polarization, and populism, are impacting democratic systems. Finally, we ask whether democratic theory can marshal responses to these (and other) problems, and if so, what those responses might look like.
Overall, in this course, we will:
- Trace how the rise in political power of nation-states related to the rise of democratic thought.
- Discuss how different theories led to waves of democratization over history.
- Examine current problems facing democracies across the globe.
- Question how, if at all, democratic theory might help us respond to myriad crises we are facing.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
After the successful completion of the course students will:
- Have an in-depth knowledge about a variety of democratic theories
- Be able to understand why and how states adopted different democratic forms
- Understand how different democratic crises have emerged in practice
- Explain and defend how democratic theory might be used to respond to problems facing nation-states
Skills
The students will be able to:
- Use democratic theories to examine historical reasons for states adopting different systems
- Explain how different democratic theory relate to why nation-states adopt different institutional designs
- Assess how theory could inform contemporary democratic debates, including (but not limited to) how current challenges to democracy should be understood and addressed
- Communicate academic knowledge in writing and orally
Competences
The students will:
- acquire an in-depth understanding of democratic theory
- Explain how democratic theory has informed the institutional design of states (and vice-versa)
- Apply theory to understand and remedy current problems with democracy
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.?Apply for guest student status if you are admitted to another Master`s programme (deadline 1 August / 5 January).
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
Bachelor degree in political science or equivalent.
Teaching
Lectures and disussion seminar
Compulsory activities:
- Attend first lecture
- Attend six of the following nine lectures
- Attend discussion seminar
- Oral presentation of the term paper
The course is taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.
See guidelines for compulsory activities
Examination
Term paper
The term paper:
- must be between 3500-5000 words
- meet the formal requirements for submission of written assignments
You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.