VALS410 Democracy and Governance (5 cr)

Study level:
Advanced studies
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English
Responsible organisation:
Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy
Curriculum periods:
2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024

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Introduction to the contemporary debates in the fields of democratic theory and governance studies

Description

The course focuses on the transformations in the relationship between governance and democracy in contemporary politics and the way these transformations have been theorized in political thought. The course illuminates the genealogical background for the contemporary criticism of depoliticizing and anti-democratic tendencies in governance and explores the possibility of a positive, mutually reinforcing relation between democracy and governance.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to attain a critical introduction to late-modern theories of democracy and governance; to learn to locate the positions of key 20th century political theorists in the intellectual and sociohistorical context; to develop one’s skills in critical reading and textual analysis as well as one’s abilities to apply theoretical concepts to issues and events in contemporary politics.

Additional information

Teaching in english on academic year 2021-2022. 

Study materials

Materials for contact teaching are introduced during the course.


Materials for the written assignment in the literature list below.

Literature

  • Brown, W. 2015: Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism's Stealth Revolution. New York: Zone Books. 978-1-935-40869-7 (e-kirja)
  • Dean, M. (2010) Governmentality: Power and Rule in Modern Society, London: Sage (2nd edition). 978-1847873842
  • Honneth, A. (2014), Freedom’s Right: The Social Foundations of Democratic Life, New York: Columbia University Press. 9780231162470
  • Levitsky, S. and Ziblatt, D. (2018), How Democracies Die, New York: Penguin. 9781524762940

Completion methods

Method 1

Description:
20 hrs lectures, writing assignment
Evaluation criteria:
Assignments are evaluated on the basis of the students’ mastery of the contents of teaching and literature, demonstrated skills in critical evaluation of arguments and the application of theoretical concepts to political issues.
Select all marked parts

Method 2

Description:
Essay on the course literature.
Evaluation criteria:
Assignments are evaluated on the basis of the students’ mastery of the contents of teaching and literature, demonstrated skills in critical evaluation of arguments and the application of theoretical concepts to political issues.
Select all marked parts
Parts of the completion methods
x

Teaching (5 cr)

Type:
Participation in teaching
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
Finnish

Teaching

x

Independent study (5 cr)

Type:
Independent study
Grading scale:
0-5
Language:
English

Teaching