POLb1003 Democracy, Autocracy and Ideology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Lubomír Kopeček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Basel (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Václav Šmatera (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Lubomír Kopeček, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 14:00–15:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
POLb1003/01: Mon 13. 3. 10:00–11:40 U43, Mon 17. 4. 10:00–11:40 U43
POLb1003/02: Tue 14. 3. 12:00–13:40 U41, Tue 18. 4. 12:00–13:40 U41
POLb1003/03: Tue 14. 3. 8:00–9:40 Studio 527, Tue 18. 4. 8:00–9:40 Studio 527
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! POL112 Democracy and Doctrines && !NOW( POL112 Democracy and Doctrines )
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
there are 29 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course has two main goals: (1) Introducing to the problems of theoretical reflection of democratic and non-democratic regimes, and (2) offering a systematic survey of major political ideologies and doctrines of the modern world, from classical liberalism to contemporary socialism to environmentalism.
Course participants will acquire complex understanding of the nature, developments, and main features and practical-political consequences of modern political ideologies. They will be also able to describe and explain theoretical fundaments of democracy as a political system. Based on the acquired knowledge, students will know how to identify and analyze the ideological background of various political movements and organizations, as well as interpret their stance towards the democratic regime
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will be able to:
apprehend the philosophical and political bases of major political ideologies of modern times (from liberalism to environmentalism)
lead informed discussion about particular ideologies
present systematic understanding of the nature, development, main features, and major impacts of modern political ideologies
to identify and analyse the ideological background of various political movements and organizations,as well as interpret their stance towards the liberal democratic regime
appreciate the relationship between political thought and political practice
Syllabus
  • 1. Course introduction. Theory and practice of non-democracies
  • 2. Theory and practice of democracy I.
  • 3. Theory and practice of democracy II.
  • 4. Consociational democracy; Consensual and Westminster democracy
  • 5. The nature of political ideologies. Liberalism
  • 6. Conservatism
  • 7. Socialism and communism
  • 8. Nationalism
  • 9. Anarchism: tradition and current variations
  • 10. Fascism and nazism
  • 11. Feminism
  • 12. Ecologism and Environmentalism
Literature
    required literature
  • Griffin, R. „Studying Fascism in a Postfascist Age. From New Consensus to New Wave?“ Journal of Comparative Fascist Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1–17
  • BALÍK, Stanislav and Michal KUBÁT. Teorie a praxe nedemokratických režimů. 2., přeprac. vyd. Praha: Dokořán, 2012, 215 s. ISBN 9788073632663. info
  • HLOUŠEK, Vít, Lubomír KOPEČEK and Jakub ŠEDO. Politické systémy (Political Systems). Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2011, 292 pp. Politika, Evropská unie. ISBN 978-80-87474-23-5. URL info
  • JUDT, Tony. Zle se vede zemi : pojednání o naší současné nespokojenosti. Translated by Jakub Franěk. Vydání první. V Praze: Rybka Publishers, 2011, 191 stran. ISBN 9788087067321. info
  • HLOUŠEK, Vít and Lubomír KOPEČEK. Politické strany. Původ, ideologie a transformace politických stran v západní a střední Evropě (Political Parties. Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties in Western and Central Europe). Praha: Grada, 2010, 320 pp. edice Politologie. ISBN 978-80-247-3192-6. URL info
  • HROCH, Miroslav. Národy nejsou dílem náhody : příčiny a předpoklady utváření moderních evropských národů. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2009, 315 s. ISBN 9788074190100. info
  • LEGUTKO, Ryszard. Ošklivost demokracie a jiné eseje. Edited by Maciej Ruczaj, Translated by Josef Mlejnek. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (CDK), 2009, 322 s. ISBN 9788073251840. info
  • HEYWOOD, Andrew. Politické ideologie. Translated by Zdeněk Masopust. 4. vyd. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2008, 362 s. ISBN 9788073801373. info
  • HLOUŠEK, Vít and Lubomír KOPEČEK. Demokracie : Teorie, modely, osobnosti, podmínky, nepřátelé a perspektivy demokracie. 2nd ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2007, 380 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-4249-0. info
  • TOMEK, Václav and Ondřej SLAČÁLEK. Anarchismus : svoboda proti moci. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2006, 669 s. ISBN 8070217812. info
  • ŘÍCHOVÁ, Blanka. Přehled moderních politologických teorií. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2000, 303 s. ISBN 80-7178-461-3. info
    not specified
  • HUŠEK, Petr. Postanarchismus : proměny strategií resistence : první dekáda 21. století. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, Fakulta veřejných politik, 2016, 79 stran. ISBN 9788075102256. info
Teaching methods
The lectures on each topic are the primary method of the course, which put the required readings into an intellectual-historical context and also focuses on selected issues. Students are required to read the assigned readings. Additionally, seminar teaching is included.
Assessment methods
There are three requirements to fulfil in order to finish the course:
(1) midterm test;
(2) participation in the seminar and presentation of the selected topic;
(3) final oral examination.
The overall grade is A to F.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
For more detailed information on the course, see the syllabus in the section Study Materials.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2023/POLb1003