Democracy: Theory and Practice

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Political philosophers have argued that people always strive for liberty- under just governments. Political historians have figured that democracy's global spread was inevitable. Now pundits talk about democracy's retreat, "illiberal" democracy, and a "post-truth" world. Defining the genuine nature of democracy, setting valid criteria for democratic governing, and ranking countries from most to least democratic, are now more important than ever. We will explore theories of human rights, civil liberties, social justice, and citizen participation to observe their work in practice across a variety of established and newer democracies. What will be democracy's future? The strategies of anti-democratic agendas, domestic and foreign, also compel the question of whether a democracy like the United States can resist misinformation and propaganda more effectively than undemocratic nations.