Revised 9-7-06

 

                  

       PUAF 698q:  Selected Topics in Public Affairs

 

Democracy and Democratization: Theory and Practice

Fall 2006

Thursdays, 1:30-4:00

Van Munching Hall 1101

 

David A. Crocker

Senior Research Scholar

Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy

School of Public Policy

University of Maryland

3111G Van Munching Hall

dcrocker@umd.edu

Phone: 301-405-4763

Office hour: Thursday: 4:15-5:30 and other times by appointment

 

 

The course, offered on the 600 level, will be open to undergraduate seniors (with permission of instructor) and both M.A. and Ph.D. students throughout the university.

 

I. Aims of the Course: This course will focus on the theory and practice of democracy and democratization as well as related themes of civil society and civic engagement. In Part I, we will consider various theories that seek to understand and defend democratic governance. What is the nature of democracy in contrast to other forms of government--such as bureaucratic elitism, theocracy, and authoritarianism--and can democracy be defended against these other governmental arrangements? What are the strengths and weaknesses of various forms of democratic theory, for example, minimalist democracy (Schumpeter), liberal-representative democracy (Dahl -polyarchy), and deliberative democracy? What does each theory consider to be the causes, consequences, limits, and threats to democracy? 

 

In Part II, the course will examine and evaluate the practice of democracy and especially institutional experiments in deepening and broadening democracy. Part III will assess theories that explain and justify transitions from authoritarianism to democracy as well as various approaches to democracy promotion.

 

II. Recommended Books (University Book Store, Internet):

·        Carothers, Thomas and Marina Ottaway, eds. Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2005) (ISBN0-87003-211-9).

·        Dahl, Robert A., Democracy and Its Critics (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989). ISBN0-300-04938-2

·        Diamond, Larry, Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999) (0-80186-156-X)

·        Diamond, Larry, Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq (Owl Books, 2006) (ISBN: 0-80508-008-2).

·        Fung, Archon and Erik Olin Wright, eds., Deepening Democracy (London: Verso, 2003).  (ISBN: 1-85984-466-9)

·        Gutmann, Amy and Dennis Thompson, Why Deliberative Democracy? (Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2004) (ISBN: 0-691-12019-6)

·        Schumpter, Joseph, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, 3rd ed. (New York: Harper and Row, 1950) (0-061-33008-6).

 

III. Class Website: http://www.wam.umd.edu/~dcrocker/Courses/PUAF698Q.html

            Our class website has been constructed and will be managed by Soumya Chattopadhyay (soumya218@yahoo.com). The syllabus, class roster, theoretical paper guidelines, and some readings are available on the website.

 

 

IV. Requirements:

 

1. Consistent Attendance and Participation (10%)

 

Students will come to class having read carefully the assigned reading. You should be prepared to summarize the reading's main arguments, raise at least one question of interpretation, identify at least one positive feature, and make at least one criticism of the reading. Participation in class discussion will be evaluated in relation to both quality and quantity (not too much nor too little).

 

2. Course Examination (30 %)

 

The examination will cover the readings and class discussions during the entire course. In your preparation, emphasize what we have stressed in class discussion.

 

3.   Paper(s)

 

All papers should be submitted electronically at no later than 9 a.m. on the due date. Papers should be double-spaced in 12 point font with consistent foot or end-noting.

  

·        Option I: Long (20‑25 page) Final Term Paper (with option to revise) (60 % of final grade).

o       Topic Proposal: A one-page sketch of proposed topic (10/23).

o       Detailed three-page outline of paper plus bibliography (11/13).

o       Paper due (12/4), if you have chosen to revise.

o       Paper due (12/18), if you have not chosen to revise.

o       (Optional) revision of paper due (12/18). (If you chose to revise, the grade on the revision will replace the original paper’s grade).

 

§         Option II: Four Short (5‑6 page) Papers (15% each of final grade). Each short paper should interpret and assess some narrow topic, position, problem, or argument in the reading assigned for the appropriate two‑week or three-week period. Each paper may be revised on the basis of instructor's comments and criticisms. (If you choose to revise, the grade on the revision will replace the grade on the original paper).

 

Short Paper #1: Due: 9/18 (optional revision due: 9/25)

Short Paper #2: Due: 10/9 (optional revision due: 10/16)

Short Paper #3: Due: 10/30 (optional revision due: 11/6)

Short Paper #4: Due: 12/4 (optional revision due: 12/18)

 

VI. Course Outline:

 

Part I: Theories of Democracy

 

Week 1 (8/31) Introduction (Guest Lecturer: Stephen Schwenke)

·        Course Aims, Books, Requirements, Outline

·        Challenges to Democracy and Democratization: Theory and Practice

 

Week 2 (9/7):  Sources and Definitions of Democracy

·        Robert A. Dahl, Democracy and Is Critics, Intro., chaps. 1-2

·        Joshua Ober, “Learning from Athens,” Boston Review, March-April 2006, website or <http://bostonreview.net/BR31.2/ober.html>

·         Types of Democratic Theory: Amy Gutmann, “Democracy,” in Robert E. Goodin and Philip Pettit, eds., A Companion to Contemporary Political Philosophy (1993): 411-421. Website

·        Larry Diamond, Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation, ch. 1

·        Amartya Sen, “Democracy as a Universal Value,” Journal of Democracy (July 1999): 3-17 Website

 

Week 3 (9/14): Critics of Democracy (Guest Lecturer: Stephen Schwenke)

·        Robert A. Dahl, Democracy and Is Critics, chaps. 3-5

 

Short Paper #1 Due 9/18

 

Week 4 (9/21):  Competitive Electoralism or Democratic Minimalism (Schumpter)

 

·        Joseph Schumpter, “Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy,” Ch. IV

·        Tom Bottomore, “Introduction” to Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy,” ix-xiv.

·        Adam Przeworski, “Minimalist Conception of Democracy: A Defense,” Website.

 

Short Paper #1 Revision Due, 9/25

 

Week 5 (9/28):  Liberal Democracy or Polyarchy (Dahl) I

·        .Robert A. Dahl, Democracy and Its Critics, 83-209

 

Week 6 (10/5):  Liberal Democracy or Polyarchy (Dahl) II

·        Robert A. Dahl, Democracy and Its Critics, 213-341

 

Short Paper #2 Due 10/9

 

Week 7 (10/12): Deliberative Democracy (Gutmann and Thompson) I

·        Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson, Why Deliberative Democracy, Preface and Chap. 1-2

 

Short Paper #2 Revision Due 10/16

 

Week 8 (10/19): Deliberative Democracy (Gutmann and Thompson) II

·        Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson, Why Deliberative Democracy, Chap. 3-4

·        Ian Shapiro, “Enough of Deliberation: Politics is About Interests and Power” in Stephen Macedo, ed., Deliberative Politics: Essays on Democracy and Disagreement, pp. 28-38, website.

·        Lynn Sanders, “Against Deliberation,” Political Theory 25: 347-76.

 

Long Paper Topic Proposal Due 10/23

 

Part II: Democratic Practice

 

Week 9 (10/26): The Capability Approach and Deliberative Democracy

·        Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen, India: Development and Participation, chap. 10, “The Practice of Democracy.”

·        David A. Crocker, “Sen and Deliberative Democracy.”

·        David A. Crocker, “Deliberative Participation in Local Development.”

 

Short Paper #3 Due 10/30

 

Week 10 (11/2): Empowered Participatory Governance (Fung and Wright)

·        Archon Fung and Erik Olin Wright, “Thinking about Empowered. Participatory Governance,” Deepening Democracy, chap. 1.

·        Gianpaolo Baiocchi, “Participation, Activism, and Politics: The Porto Alegre Experiment” Deepening Democracy, chap. 2.

·        T. M. Thomas Isaac and Patrick Heller, “Democracy and Development: Decentralized Planning in Kerala,” Deepening Democracy, chap. 3.

·        Archon Fung, “Deliberative Democracy, Chicago Style: Grass-roots Governance in Policing and Public Education.” Deepening Democracy, chap. 4

·        Jane Mansbridge, “Practice-Thought-Practice,” Deepening Democracy, chap. 6.

 

Short Paper # 3 Revision due, 11/6

 

Part III: Democratic Transitions and Democracy Promotion

 

Week 11 (11/9): Transitions to Democracy

·        Larry Diamond, Developing Democracy, 2-3, 5, 7

·        Archon Fung, “Deliberation before the Revolution: Toward an Ethics of Deliberative Democracy,” Political Theory, 32, 2 (2005). Website           

 

Long Paper Outline and Working Bibliography Due 11/13

 

Week 12 (11/16): The End of the Transition Paradigm?

·        Thomas Carothers, Critical Mission, chap. 14, “The End of the Transition Paradigm,” and chap. 15, “Debating the Transition Paradigm.” Website

 

Week 13 (11/30): Promoting Democracy in the Middle East

·        Thomas Carothers and Marina Ottaway, ed. Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East, chaps. 1-3, 9-11, 13

 

Short Paper # 4 Due, 12/4

Long Paper Due, 12/4 (with option to revise)

 

Week 14 (12/7): Promoting Democracy in Iraq?

·        Larry Diamond, Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq, chaps. Intro, 1-2, 5-6. 9-11

 

Week 15 (12/14) Course Examination (rm. 1101; 1:30 – 4 p.m.)

 

12/18

·        Short Paper # 4 Revision Due

·        Optional Revision of Long Paper Due

·        Long Paper Due (with no option to revise)