Contemporary Democracy Issues

Course Information
TitleΣύγχρονα Θέματα Δημοκρατίας / Contemporary Democracy Issues
CodeΚΕ0Ε42
FacultySocial and Economic Sciences
SchoolPolitical Sciences
Cycle / Level1st / Undergraduate
Teaching PeriodWinter
CoordinatorAlexandros Kioupkiolis
CommonYes
StatusActive
Course ID100001509

Programme of Study: PPS Tmīma Politikṓn Epistīmṓn 2023-sīmera

Registered students: 0
OrientationAttendance TypeSemesterYearECTS
KORMOSElective CoursesSpring-4

Class Information
Academic Year2022 – 2023
Class PeriodSpring
Faculty Instructors
Weekly Hours3
Total Hours39
Class ID
600216351
Course Type 2016-2020
  • Scientific Area
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
  • Face to face
Digital Course Content
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
  • Greek (Instruction, Examination)
  • English (Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Comprehension and assessment of key critical theories and issues of contemporary democracy in the political thought of our times. Development of analytical and critical, argumentative skills in relevant topics. Development of critical essay writing skills on the topics of the course and in contemporary political theory.
General Competences
  • Make decisions
  • Work autonomously
  • Generate new research ideas
  • Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
  • Be critical and self-critical
  • Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
The course is divided into two main sections. In the first section we analyse initially two contemporary theories of democracy, the models of deliberative democracy (J. Habermas, J. Rawls et al.) and of agonistic democracy (Ch. Mouffe, J. Rancière et al.) and we examine their critique of the theory and the practice of modern democracy: of the liberal, republican and aggregative model of democracy, as well as of contemporary democratic politics. We then engage with theories of post-democracy (C. Crouch, Ch. Mouffe) and biopower which offer theoretical frames for a critical understanding and assessment of the contemporary condition of democracy under circumstances of crisis. In the second section we will explore contemporary thought on the different forms of collective subjects which undertake, or could undertake, political action in our times with a view to fostering democracy. We will focus: 1) On the conceptions of the people and the multitude in the thought of Ernesto Laclau and Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri; 2) On social classes under present conditions: how they are structured and which role can or should they play in political structure and mobilization; how social class is conceptualized in the classical sociology of modernity (Karl Marx and Max Weber), in contemporary political sociology (Goldthrope) and in the theories of the 'precariat' (Guy Standing); 3) On the nation and nationalism. The importance of the appeal to the nation for the construction of contemporary political communities and for the emergence of strong collective identities; We will look into basic problems of the definition of the nation, the analysis of nationalism as a political ideology, the relationship of the nation with democracy and justice.
Keywords
democracy, postdemocracy, deliberation, agonism, people, multitude, precariat, nation
Educational Material Types
  • Notes
  • Book
Course Organization
ActivitiesWorkloadECTSIndividualTeamworkErasmus
Lectures993.6
Seminars
Reading Assigment60.2
Tutorial
Written assigments50.2
Total1104
Student Assessment
Description
Understanding of basic theories and concepts of the political theory of contemporary democracy and the specific topics of the course. Ability to develop critical arguments on the topics of the course, orally and in writing.
Student Assessment methods
  • Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Formative)
  • Written Assignment (Formative)
  • Oral Exams (Formative)
  • Performance / Staging (Formative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
1) Μουφ Σαντάλ (2004) Το δημοκρατικό παράδοξο, ελλην. μτφρ. Α. Κιουπκιολής, Αθήνα: Πόλις. 2) Χαρντ Μάικλ, Νέγκρι Αντόνιο (2011) Πλήθος, ελλην. μτφρ. Γ. Καράμπελας, Αθήνα: Αλεξάνδρεια
Additional bibliography for study
Αγκάμπεν Τζιώρτζιο (2005) Homo sacer. Kυρίαρχη εξουσία και γυμνή ζωή, ελλην. μτφρ. Π. Tσιαμούρας, Αθήνα: Scripta Βέμπερ Μαξ (2007) Οικονομία και κοινωνία. Β΄ Τόμος: Κοινότητες, ελλην. μτφρ. Θ. Γκιούρας, Αθήνα: Σαββάλας Κράουτς Kόλιν (2006) Μεταδημοκρατία, ελλην. μτφρ. Α. Κιουπκιολής, Αθήνα: Εκκρεμές Μαρξ Καρλ, Ένγκελς Φρίντριχ (1997) Μανιφέστο του Κομμουνιστικού Κόμματος, μτφρ. Γ.-Ι. Μπαμπασάκης, Αθήνα: Ερατώ Standing, Guy (2011) The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class, Λονδίνο, Νέα Υόρκη: Bloomsbury Academic Χάμπερμας Γιούργκεν (1996) Το πραγματικό και το ισχύον, μτφρ. Θ. Λουπασάκης, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Λιβάνη Χόμπσμπαουμ E.Τζ. (1994) Έθνη και εθνικισμός από το 1780, ελλην. μτφρ. Χ. Νάτριτς, Αθήνα: Καρδαμίτσα.
Last Update
19-07-2023