LIB506 - Democracy: Four Hundred Years in the Making
Course Description
Aficionados of democracy are living in disturbing times. While the path to democratic consolidation has never been a direct line or a foregone conclusion, our current moment feels especially precarious. Established democracies are flirting with authoritarian leaders and parties; a worrying number of democracies have succumbed to authoritarian capture. We’ll “check in” with this powerful theory and social movement by revisiting the main icons of democratic thought, from the deep past to the turbulent present. Although we may engage with themes of why and how democracies collapse, our overall vision is of the promise and potential of democracy, a theory that continues to motivate revolutionary change worldwide.
Note: As a seminar course, active participation in reading and class discussion is expected. Weekly reading material posted in Canvas will include a variety of sources, from the scholarly to the popular. Student feedback on the course materials is welcome and the instructor is flexible about making adjustments and additions to the readings.
This course is offered in person.
A $50 discount is available during check-out for adults 55+.