Democracy and Secularism

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Democracy’s global dominance once seemed inevitable and irreversible. Presently we observe democracy’s retreat, “illiberal” democracy, and a “post truth” world. Defining democracy, setting criteria for democratic constitutions and governance, and ranking countries from most to least democratic, are urgent academic agendas. We will explore human rights, civil liberties, social justice, religious freedom, and citizen participation to observe how they work in practice for established and newer democracies. Are religions promoting or eroding democracy today? Secularism in principle offers a third option besides the government controlling religion (tyranny) and a religion controlling government (theocracy). Different types of secular separation between church and state have developed in different socio-cultural contexts. The experiences of France, USA, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, India, and China, along with a selection of additional nations, are represented.