STV4105 – Democracy: From Theory to Practice

Course content

Why did so many people throughout history decide that political power should be exercised democratically? Is democracy actually the best form of government? If so, which type of democracy? For millennia, different strands of democratic theory have arisen, shaping how democracy emerges, survives, declines, and re-emerges within nation-states. In this course, we begin by looking at how democratic theory related to the appearance of nation-states and its project of maintaining political power. Then we turn to how different theories of democracy impacted nation-state democratization in the 20th Century, transpiring in widespread liberal democracy efforts. After we look at how current crises, such as globalization, polarization, and populism, are impacting democratic systems. Finally, we ask whether democratic theory can marshal responses to these (and other) problems, and if so, what those responses might look like.

Overall, in this course, we will:

  • Trace how the rise in political power of nation-states related to the rise of democratic thought.
  • Discuss how different theories led to waves of democratization over history.
  • Examine current problems facing democracies across the globe.
  • Question how, if at all, democratic theory might help us respond to myriad crises we are facing.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After the successful completion of the course students will:

  • Have an in-depth knowledge about a variety of democratic theories.
  • Be able to understand why and how states adopted different democratic forms.
  • Understand how different democratic crises have emerged in practice.
  • Explain and defend how democratic theory might be used to respond to problems facing nation-states.

Skills

The students will be able to:

  • Use democratic theories to examine historical reasons for states adopting different systems.
  • Explain how different democratic theory relate to why nation-states adopt different institutional designs.
  • Assess how theory could inform contemporary democratic debates, including (but not limited to) how current challenges to democracy should be understood and addressed
  • Communicate academic knowledge in writing and orally.

Competences

The students will:

  • Acquire an in-depth understanding of democratic theory.
  • Explain how democratic theory has informed the institutional design of states (and vice-versa).
  • Apply theory to understand and remedy current problems with democracy.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.?Apply for guest student status if you are admitted to another Master's programme (deadline 1 August / 5 January).

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Bachelor's degree in Political Science or equivalent.

Teaching

Lectures and disussion seminar

Compulsory activities:

  • Attend discussion seminar.
  • Oral presentation of the term paper.
  • Absence from compulsory activities: For many courses, UiO requires participation in the form of compulsory activities. These must be approved before you can sit for the examination. If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed. Report absence from or the need for a postponed deadline on a compulsory activity?Absence from compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)

The course is taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.

Examination

Term paper

The term paper:

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) May 29, 2025 3:54:02 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn
Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English