BSSn4450 Militant democracy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course deals with the concept of militant democracy and its important parts, including criticism towards this concept. It presents main dimensions of militant democracy and its impact (limitation of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, free choice of employment etc.). Selected case studies are part of this course.
Learning outcomes
Students should be able to assess contemporary discussions about various forms of defense of democracy. They should be able to categorize of various forms of instruments of militant democracy and to characterize their impact on anti-extremism policy.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction into the study of militant democracy; 2. Development of the concept of militant democracy and its criticism 3. Labeling of enemies of democracy; 4. Limits of freedom; 5. Resistance against enemies of democracy; 6. Discursive defence of democracy; 7.-12. Case studies and expert discussions. 13. Summary of the course, perspectives of militant democracy
Literature
    required literature
  • Macklem, P. (2006): Militant democracy, legal pluralism and the paradox of self-determination. International Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 488-516, https://academic.oup.com/icon/article/4/3/488/646381
  • Backes, U. (2007): Meaning and Forms of Political Extremism, Central European Political Science Review, roč. 9, č. 4, s. 242-262 https://journals.muni.cz/cepsr/article/view/4398
  • Skrzypek, M. (2022) Between neo-militant and quasi-militant democracy: restrictions on freedoms of speech and the press in Austria, Finland, and Sweden 2008–2019, European Politics and Society, online-first, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2
  • MAREŠ, Miroslav. How Does Militant Democracy Function in Combating Right-Wing Extremism? : A Case Study of Slovakian Militant Democracy and the Rise of Kotleba – People’s Party Our Slovakia. In Afshin Ellian, Bastiaan Rijpkema. Militant Democracy – Political Science, Law and Philosophy. 1. vyd. Cham: Springer, 2018, p. 61-76. Philosophy and Politics - Critical Explorations, vol. 7. ISBN 978-3-319-97003-5. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97004-2_4. URL info
  • Militant democracy - political science, law and philosophy. Edited by Afshin Ellian - Bastiaan Rijpkema. Cham: Springer, 2018, xi, 193. ISBN 9783319970035. info
  • MAREŠ, Miroslav and Štěpán VÝBORNÝ. Militantní demokracie ve střední Evropě (Militant Democracy in Central Europe). 1st ed. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2013, 249 pp. Politologická řada. ISBN 978-80-7325-326-4. info
  • MAREŠ, Miroslav. Czech Militant Democracy in Action : Dissolution of the Workers' Party and the Wider Context of This Act. East European Politics and Societies. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications Inc., 2012, vol. 26, No 1, p. 33-55. ISSN 0888-3254. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0888325411408070. URL info
    recommended literature
  • Militant democracy and its critics : populism, parties, extremism. Edited by Anthoula Malkopoulou - Alexander S. Kirshner. First published. Edinburgh: Edinburgh university press, 2019, vi, 256. ISBN 9781474445603. info
  • RIJPKEMA, Bastiaan. Militant democracy : the limits of democratic tolerance. Translated by Anna Asbury. First published. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2018, xi, 242. ISBN 9781138542969. info
  • The 'militant democracy' principle in modern democracies. Edited by Markus Thiel. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2009, viii, 428. ISBN 9780754671831. info
  • ČERNÝ, Petr. Právní ochrana před extremismem. Vyd. 1. Praha: C.H. Beck, 2008, xiv, 256. ISBN 9788074000539. info
  • Defending democracy : reactions to extremism in interwar Europe. Edited by Giovanni Capoccia. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press, 2005, viii, 335. ISBN 0801887550. info
  • Militant democracy. Edited by András Sajó - Lorri Rutt Bentch. Utrecht: Eleven International, 2004, [vii], 262. ISBN 9077596046. info
  • KYSELA, Jan. Právo na odpor a občanskou neposlušnost. Vyd. 1. Brno: Doplněk, 2001, 120 s. ISBN 8072390783. info
Teaching methods
The course takes the form of both lectures and seminars. There are explained important issues within lectures, which are further discussed during seminars in the forms of position papers. Presentation of outlines of students' referates (as a base for seminar works) is a part of a seminar.
Assessment methods
Students will receive a final letter grade (A-F) for the semester based on the following components: position paper (6 points), discussion (6 points), presentation (6 points), seminary thesis (18 points); final written exam (24 points). Grading: 56-60: A 51-55: B 46-50: C 41-45: D 36-40: E 35-0: F.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2024/BSSn4450