Universität Wien

140238 KU KP2 - K V Political Aspects of Development (2013W)

Theories of Democracy

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Please note that the last workshop on 7 December from 3pm to 8pm compulsory.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 50 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 08.10. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 15.10. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 22.10. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 29.10. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 05.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 12.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 19.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 26.11. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 03.12. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 10.12. 15:00 - 17:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1
  • Tuesday 17.12. 15:00 - 20:00 Seminarraum SG1 Internationale Entwicklung, Sensengasse 3, Bauteil 1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The roots of modern democratic theory and human rights, their core concepts and their inherent connections shall be examined and discussed on the basis of classic texts of political philosophy. The notion of social contract, checks and balances, sovereignty, constitutionalism and representation are the guiding principles of a critical assessment.
The second part of the course shifts to putting these theories at work and analyzes how these two principles become ever more separated in the 20th and 21st century. Analyses and critique of global constitutionalism, humanitarian intervention legitimated by human rights, and contemporary crises of democracy are core issues.
The course primarily relies on political theory, yet students are encouraged to pro-actively contribute their own examples and thus set the empirical focus of this course.

Assessment and permitted materials

regular attendance (esp. at the workshop on 7/12), active engagement in discussions, short presentation of one of the core texts (in groups), written text reviews, essay on one of the course's key issues

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- Differentiated approaches to theories of democracy
- critical awareness of differing democratic concepts
- understanding of contemporary crises
- outlook on possible developments

Examination topics

Comprehensive texts have to be thoroughly read prior to every session. These texts will then be discussed in more depth. Short presentations by the students should deliver a starting point for these discussions.

Reading list

All texts will be available as pdfs through the moodle platform. These include primary and secondary literature both in English and German.
inter alia:
- Schmidt, Manfred G., 2006, Demokratietheorien. Eine Einführung. VS-Verlag.
- Vorländer, Hans, 2003, Demokratie. Geschichte. Formen. Theorien. Beck.
- Menke, Christoph/Raimondi, Francesca (Hg.), 2011, Die Revolution der Menschenrechte: Grundlegende Texte zu einem neuen Begriff des Politischen. Suhrkamp.
Stollberg-Rilinger, Barbara (Hg.), 2011, Was ist Aufklärung? Thesen, Definitionen, Dokumente. Reclam

Association in the course directory

KP2, K V, nK V

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:34