POL4764 Democratic TheoryBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs PSYCHOLOGYGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
PSYCHOLOGY
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL4764 Democratic Theory Fall 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course is an overview of theories of democracy, the most prevalent political paradigm in the modern world. It examines the major theories that comprise the democratic discourse today. The aim of the course is to provide the students with substantive knowledge of the key concepts and debates of democracy, and of their application to contemporary political controversies. Throughout the course, the students will gain insight into the historical development of political theory concerning democratic institutions. Select issues in democratic societies, such as the distribution of power, distribution of wealth, and the recognition of minority groups will be examined. In the final section of the course, the issue of democracy will be examined in the context of a global world order.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course can;

I.Identify major political institutions and principles of Athenian democracy
II. Recognize major political theories with different conceptions and understandings of democracy, liberal and civic republican.
III.Critically engage with all the principal political theories.
IV.Distinguish and analyze fundamental yet controversial concepts of democratic theory such as the people, representation, and accountability.
V.Evaluate workings of modern democratic institutions in light of these different theories.

Course Content

Theory and practice of democracy, participatory and deliberative democracy, philosophical underpinnings of democracy, pluralism and elitism, distribution and economic equality, multiculturalism, globalization, democracy promotion, alternatives to democracy.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction
2) Models of democracy • David Held. Models of Democracy. (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2006), Chapter 1. • Mark Bevir, “Representative Democracy” in The Encyclopedia of Political Theory (2010): 1188 – 1190.
3) Participatory and Deliberative Democracy • Mark Bevir, “Participatory Democracy” in The Encyclopedia of Political Theory (2010): 1018-1019. • Benjamin Barber, Selections from Strong Democracy (1984)* • Carole Pateman, “Participatory Democracy Revisited.” Perspectives on Politics 10:1 (2012): 7-19. • James S. Fishkin, “Deliberative Polling: Executive Summary.” Center for Deliberative Democracy. http://cdd.stanford.edu/polls/docs/summary/
4) Philosophical Underpinnings of Democracy • Aristotle, Selections from Politics (335-323 B.C.)* • John Locke, Selections from The Second Treatise on Government (1688) * • John Stuart Mill, Selections from On Liberty (1859)* Suggested: • David Held. Models of Democracy. (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2006), Chapters 2 and 3.
5) Pluralism vs. Elitism • Curtis V. Smith, “Elitism vs. Pluralism: Of Robert Dahl, the Working Middle Class Vote and the 2008 Presidential Election”, Kansas City, Kansas Community College, E-Journal, vol 2. No.2 (October 2008), Section Review of Who Governs? http://www.kckcc.edu/docs/default-source/ejournal/archives/elitism-vs-pluralism-of-robert-dahl-the-working-middle-class-vote-and-the-2008-presidential-election.pdf • C. Wright Mills. “The Mass Society” and “The Higher Circles” in The Power Elite. (Oxford Press, 1956) • Joseph Schumpeter. Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. (London and New York: Routledge, 2003), 269-273. Suggested: • David Held. Models of Democracy. (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2006), Chapter 5: 141-157.
6) Democracy and Distribution • Ian Shapiro. The State of Democratic Theory. (Princeton University Press, 2006), Chapter 5
7) Midterm
8) Multiculturalism: Philosophical Justifications • Charles Taylor, “The Politics of Recognition.” In Multiculturalism, edited by Amy Gutmann (Princeton University Press, 1994): 25-44, 51-73 • Will Kymlicka. Multicultural Citizenship. (Clarendon Press, Oxford: 1996), Chapter 5. • Song, Sarah, "Multiculturalism", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/multiculturalism/
9) Multiculturalism: Criticisms I • Susan Moller Okin, “Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?,” Princeton University Press, 1999, 7-24.
10) Multiculturalism: Criticisms II • Kenan Malik, “The Failure of Multiculturalism,” The Foreign Affairs, 2015 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/western-europe/failure-multiculturalism • Will Kymlicka, “Multiculturalism: Success, Failure and the Future”, Transatlantic Council on Migration http://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/TCM-Multiculturalism-Web.pdf
11) Globalization and Democracy • David Held. “The transformation of political community: rethinking democracy in the context of globalization” in Democracy’s Edges, edited by Ian Shapiro and Casiano Hacker-Cordon. (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1999): 84-111.
12) Democracy Promotion • Peter Burnell, “Does International Democracy Promotion Work?” Bonn : Dt. Inst. für Entwicklungspolitik, 2007. – (Discussion Paper / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik ; 17/2007) ISBN 978-3-88985-354-7
13) Is democracy the only alternative • Eric Li, “Why China’s Political Model is Superior,” The New York Times. Feb 16., 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/opinion/why-chinas-political-model-is-superior.html • Yasheng Huang, “Why Democracy Still Wins”, Global Policy Journal Blog, April 25, 2014. http://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/25/04/2014/why-democracy-still-wins-critique-eric-x-li%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9C-tale-two-political-systems%E2%80%9D
14) GENERAL EVALUATION

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: No coursebook other than the assigned articles
-Haftalık okumaların dışında kaynak gerekememektedir.
References:

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 13 % 10
Quizzes 4 % 20
Presentation 1 % 10
Midterms 1 % 20
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 13 39
Study Hours Out of Class 12 102
Presentations / Seminar 1 0.5
Quizzes 4 4
Midterms 1 2
Final 1 2
Total Workload 149.5

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To develop an interest in the human mind and behavior, to be able to evaluate theories using empirical findings, to understand that psychology is an evidence-based science by acquiring critical thinking skills.
2) To gain a biopsychosocial perspective on human behavior. To understand the biological, psychological, and social variables of behavior.
3) To learn the basic concepts in psychology and the theoretical and practical approaches used to study them (e.g. basic observation and interview techniques).
4) To acquire the methods and skills to access and write information using English as the dominant language in the psychological literature, to recognize and apply scientific research and data evaluation techniques (e.g. correlational, experimental, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, case studies).
5) To be against discrimination and prejudice; to have ethical concerns while working in research and practice areas.
6) To recognize the main subfields of psychology (experimental, developmental, clinical, cognitive, social and industrial/organizational psychology) and their related fields of study and specialization.
7) To acquire the skills necessary for analyzing, interpreting and presenting the findings as well as problem posing, hypothesizing and data collection, which are the basic elements of scientific studies.
8) To gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary for psychological assessment and evaluation.
9) To acquire basic knowledge of other disciplines (medicine, genetics, biology, economics, sociology, political science, communication, philosophy, anthropology, literature, law, art, etc.) that will contribute to psychology and to use this knowledge in the understanding and interpretation of psychological processes.
10) To develop sensitivity towards social problems; to take responsibility in activities that benefit the field of psychology and society.
11) To have problem solving skills and to be able to develop the necessary analytical approaches for this.
12) To be able to criticize any subject in business and academic life and to be able to express their thoughts.