INTR 320 (S) Democracy: Prospects and Discontents

This class is designed to enhance awareness about democracy issues. It covers classic arguments about relations within civil society, formal governmental arrangements, the availability and utility of popular suffrage, and practices that threaten full implementation. The course responds to the assumption that democracy, though widely valued, is not a finished project. Many express fears about its prospects. The class will draw on the experiences in the U.S. - routinely put forth as an advanced democracy- to identify themes and problems in the premier democratic state with a record of discord about Universal Manhood Suffrage, Woman's Suffrage, urban reform/Proportional Representation, the Reapportionment Revolution, and the voting rights work of the civil rights movement. It will also examine some of the emerging work in civil society and the unique efforts around democracy in southern hemispheric locations and post-colonial states. As befits a course on democracy, this will be participatory. Students will respond to and interact with presentations by the instructor. A special feature of the course will be presentations by invited special lecturers drawing on accomplished persons in advocacy and academics who will remain on campus for extended interaction. Format: lecture/discussion; short papers and a final written paper
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment limit (25) Enrollment expected (25)

Hour: WILLINGHAM