Advanced Introduction to Theories in the Social Sciences I. Democracy and Society

The course aims at presenting different conceptions of democracy as they have emerged in theories and in practices. As such, it introduces some main topics in political sociology, bridging concerns with theoretical approaches as well as empirical research on democracy within and beyond institutions.

The first part introduces various conceptualization of democracy, singling out the development of conceptions and practices of liberal democracy and its challenges. The second part discusses alternative visions of democracy with particular attention to participatory and deliberative conceptions and practices, in civil society and public institutions. The third part looks at recent innovations in democracy, with particular attention to constitutional processes and direct democracy. The fourth part addresses the debate in the social sciences about structural conditions for democracy and agents of democratizations. The fifth part looks at the interactions between social movements and democracy. The sixth part discusses the interactions between politics and the market, with particular attention to the interactions between democracy and capitalist developments. The final session looks at the role of the public sphere for democratic developments at national and transnational levels.

Session 1. Liberal democracy and its discontent

November 4, 2022.  10am-1pm

This session introduces various conceptualization of democracy, singling out the development of conceptions and practices of liberal democracy and its challenges.

Readings:

Donatella della Porta, Can Democracy be Saved?, Polity, 2013, chapter 1

Donatella della Porta, Where did the revolution go?, Cambridge University Press, 2016, chapter 1.

Session 2. Participatory and deliberative conceptions of democracy

November 7, 2022 2pm-5pm

This session discusses alternative visions of democracy with particular attention to participatory and deliberative conceptions and practices, in civil society and public institutions.

Readings:

Della Porta, Donatella, Can democracy be saved?, Oxford, Polity Press, 2013, Chaps. 3 and 4

Della Porta, Donatella, Social Movements in times of austerity, Oxford, Polity Press, 2015, chap. 4.

Session 3. Democratization and democratic deepening

November 14, 2022, 2pm-5pm

This session looks at recent innovations in democracy, with particular attention to constitutional processes and direct democracy.

Readings:

Della Porta, Donatella, How social movements can save democracy, Polity, 2020, chapter 1 and 2.

Smith, Graham, 2010, Democratic Innovation. Designing Institutions for Citizens’ Participation, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, chaps. 1 and 5.

Session 4. Social Movements and Democracy

November 21, 2022 2pm-6-pm

This session will address the interactions between social movements and democracy. In this context, the 3rd edition of Social Movements: An Introduction will be presented by the authors and discussed.

Readings:

D. della Porta and M. Diani, Social Movements: An Introduction, Blackwell, 3rd edition, 2020, chaps. 1 and 8.

Session 5 . Inequalities and democracy

November 25, 2022, 2pm-6pm

This session discusses the interactions between politics and the market, with particular attention to the interactions between democracy and capitalist developments and democracy and gender issues.

Readings:

Donatella della Porta, Social Movements in Times of Austerity, Polity, 2015, chapter 1.

Session 6. Democracy and the public sphere  

November 28, 2022, 2pm-5pm

This session looks at the role of the public sphere for democratic developments at national and transnational levels.                                      

Readings

Bennett, W. L. and B. Pfetsch (2018). "Rethinking Political Communication in a Time of Disrupted Public Spheres." Journal of Communication 68(2): 243-253.

Fraser, N. (2007). "Transnationalizing the Public Sphere: On the Legitimacy and Efficacy of Public Opinion in a Post-Westphalian World." Theory, Culture & Society 24(4): 7-30.

Salvatore, A., Schmidtke, O. and Trenz, HJ. (2013). Introduction: Rethinking the Public Sphere through Transnationalizing Processes. Europe and Beyond. In A. Salvatore, O. Schmidtke and H. J. Trenz (eds.). Rethinking the Public Sphere through Transnationalizing Processes. Europe and Beyond. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan: 1-24.