{"id":306846,"date":"2010-02-11T09:41:16","date_gmt":"2010-02-11T14:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.compact.org\/?p=9754"},"modified":"2010-02-11T09:41:16","modified_gmt":"2010-02-11T14:41:16","slug":"democracy-and-political-participation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/306846","title":{"rendered":"Democracy and Political Participation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Summary of the Course: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ever since the end of the Cold War, taking place in the context of, and further propelling forward, the so-called &gt;Third Wave= of democratization throughout the world, many Americans have been celebrating the global victory of democracy and capitalism.  Some have even gone to war allegedly to preserve and promote this \u2018victory\u2019.  At the same time, numerous democracies throughout the world are wrestling with problems of \u201ccivic disengagement\u201d and growing disillusionment with \u2018elitist democracy\u2019 (i.e. inequality and elite domination) or \u2018big government\u2019 (i.e. bureaucracy and state tyranny). What does all of this mean for the future of democracy?  Can anything be done to return democracy \u2018to the people\u2019?  Should anything be done at all?  Looking at a real-world case of democratic representation and public administration \u2013 the City of DeLand, FL \u2013 what can we learn about civic disengagement, elitist democracy, big government and current efforts or future prescriptions to address these?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Course Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Grades will be based on performance in the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Attendance and class participation, excluding oral presentations: 15%<\/li>\n<li>Eight Reading\/Minipaper Assignments and Presentations: 15%<\/li>\n<li>Midterm exam of essays and short answer\/identifications: 20%<\/li>\n<li>Outline for final paper (due date TBA): 5%<\/li>\n<li>Final literature review\/research paper (due on last day of class): 25%<\/li>\n<li>Final exam of essays and short answer\/identifications: 20%<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Nylen stands by Stetson&#8217;s official statement on grades, which says:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px; \">Grades represent the instructor&#8217;s final estimate of the student&#8217;s performance in a course.  The grade of A (+ or -) may be interpreted to mean that the instructor recognizes exceptional capacity and exceptional performance.  The grade of B (+ or -) signifies that the student has gained a significantly more effective command of material than is generally expected in the course.  The grade or C or C+ is the instructor&#8217;s certification that the student has demonstrated the required mastery of the material.  A student is graded C- or D (+ or -) when his\/her grasp of the course essentials is minimal. [Stetson University Bulletin, 2006-7, P.31]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Any form of cheating, including and especially plagiarism, will result in an automatic F grade for the entire course. To plagiarize is \u201cTo take and pass off as one\u2019s own (the ideas, writings, etc. of another).\u201d [Webster\u2019s New World Dictionary of the American Language (1962)]<\/li>\n<li>Requests for make-up exams or late papers must be preceded by a really, really, really good excuse, or by written medical evidence.<\/li>\n<li>Significant improvement through the semester can result in an upgrade of half a letter grade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Required Books:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>David Held. Models of Democracy, 2nd Ed. (Stanford: Stanford Univ. Press, 1996).<\/li>\n<li>William R. Nylen. Participatory Democracy versus Elitist Democracy: Lessons from Brazil (New York: Palgrave, 2003)<\/li>\n<li>Archon Fung. Empowered Participation: Reinventing Urban Democracy (Princeton: Princeton Univeristy Press, 2004).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>* Some required readings will be available online (Blackboard) as indicated. These are just as important to the course as those required for purchase.  Others are only recommended, especially for those with a keen interest in the subject matter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Internet Resources (only a small sample):<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Sustainable Communities Network, http:\/\/www.sustainable.org\/creating\/civic.html<\/li>\n<li>Policyoptions.org,\u00a0http:\/\/www.policyoptions.org\/index.html<\/li>\n<li>Kettering Foundation,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kettering.org\/index.aspx<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>I. Democracy and Political Participation \u2013 definitions, intellectual history, critiques, debates<br \/>\nA. Introduction (Tues., Jan. 15)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: David Held. Models of Democracy, \u201cPreface to the Third Edition\u201d and \u201cIntroduction\u201d<br \/>\nB. Republicanism (Thurs., Jan. 17: A)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cRepublicanism: Liberty, Self-Government and the Active Citizen\u201d (Ch.2)<br \/>\nC. Liberalism (Tues., Jan. 22: B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cThe Development of Liberal Democracy: For and Against the State\u201d (Ch.3)<br \/>\nD. The Marxist critique and alternative (Thurs., Jan. 24: A)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cDirect Democracy and the End of Politics\u201d (Ch.4)<br \/>\nE. Competitive Elitism (Tues., Jan 29: B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cCompetitive Elitism and the Technocratic Vision\u201d (Ch.5)<br \/>\nF. Pluralism (Thurs., Jan 31: A)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cPluralism, Corporate Capitalism and the State\u201d (Ch.6)<br \/>\nG. Contemporary Crisis Theories &amp; Neoliberalism (Tues., Feb. 5: B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cFrom Postwar Stability to Political Crisis \u2026\u201d (Ch.7)<br \/>\n&#8211; Recommended: Lawrence Reed. \u201cWhy Limit Government?\u201d in Heritage Lectures, No. 843 (June 21, 2004): 1-4. [Blackboard]<br \/>\nH. Democracy and the demise of \u2018real existing socialism\u2019 (Thurs., Feb. 7: A)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cDemocracy after Soviet Communism\u201d (Ch.8); AND<br \/>\nNylen, \u201cPreface and Acknowledgements\u201d and \u201cElitist Democracy, Civic Disengagement and Citizen Politics in the United States\u201d (Ch.1)<\/p>\n<p>I. Participatory\/Deliberative Democracy (Tues., Feb. 12: B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cDeliberative Democracy and the Defence of the Public Realm\u201d (Ch.9); AND Nylen, \u201cParticipatory Democracy in Theory\u201d (Ch.3)<br \/>\n&#8211; Recommended: John Guidry &amp; Mark Sawyer. \u201cContentious Pluralism: The Public Sphere and Democracy\u201d in Perspectives on Politics (2003), 1: 273-289. [Blackboard]<br \/>\nJ. Conclusion: Democratic Autonomy &#8212; the democratic ideal and standard of measurement (Thurs., Feb. 14: NO MINIPAPERS DUE)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Held, \u201cDemocratic Autonomy\u201d (Ch.10)<br \/>\n&#8211; Study Guide Discussed\/Distributed<\/p>\n<p>II. MIDTERM EXAM (Tues., Feb. 19)<\/p>\n<p>III. CLASS DISCUSSION: Where do we go from here?  Research Strategies, Responsibilities and Division of Labor (Thurs., Feb. 21)<\/p>\n<p>IV. CASE STUDY &amp; Relevant Theoretical\/Comparative Literature:  City of DeLand &amp; local-level democratic participation<br \/>\nA. City of DeLand: Historical Background<br \/>\n&#8211; DeLand \u2013 The Movie: \u201cDeLand: Past, Present and Future\u201d (Tues., Feb. 26: no minipapers)<br \/>\n&#8211; Visitor: Dr. John Schorr, Sociology<br \/>\nB. City of DeLand: Institutional Setting &amp; Background (Thurs., Feb. 28)<br \/>\n&#8211; Visit DeLand City Hall (New York Ave. &amp; South Clara Ave.)<br \/>\n&#8211; Meet with City Manager, Mike Abels, and Assistant City Manager, Michael Pleus<\/p>\n<p>MARCH 3-7: SPRING BREAK<\/p>\n<p>C. Applied Democratic Theory\/Practice, pt.1: Participatory Budgeting in Brazil (Tues., Mar. 11: A)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Nylen, \u201cParticipatory Democracy in Practice \u2013 Brazil\u2019s Workers\u2019 Party and The Participatory Budget\u201d (Ch.4); and \u201cThe Or\u00e7amento Participativo in Betim, Minas Gerais\u201d (Ch.5)<br \/>\nD. An Interview with the Mayor (Thurs., Mar. 13)<br \/>\n&#8211; Visit DeLand City Hall<br \/>\n&#8211; Meeting\/interview with Mayor, Robert Apgar<br \/>\nE. Applied Democratic Theory\/Practice, pt.2: Participatory Budgeting in Brazil (Tues., Mar. 18: B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Nylen, \u201cAdministering the Participatory Budget\u2014Ideology and Dedication\u201d (Ch.8); and \u201cParticipatory Democracy versus Elitist Democracy\u2014Lessons from Brazil\u201d (Conclusion)<br \/>\n&#8211; Recommended: Nylen, \u201cExamining the Claims of Proponents of the Participatory Budget\u201d (Ch.6); and \u201cExamining Claims of Critics of the Participatory Budget\u201d (Ch.7)<br \/>\nF. An Interview with Members of Advisory Committees (e.g. Tree Advisory, Senior Council, Airport Noise Advisory, Planning Board, Economic Development, DeLand Housing, Historic Preservation, Citizens Advisory Task Force, etc.: http:\/\/www.deland.org\/cityhall\/clerk-boardmembers.htm (Thurs., Mar. 20)<br \/>\n&#8211; Interviewees T.B.A.<br \/>\nG. Applied Democratic Theory\/Practice, pt.3: Empowered Participation and the Ecology of Civic Engagement (Tues., Mar. 25: A&amp;B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Fung, \u201cDemocracy as a Reform Strategy\u201d (Ch.1); and Marion Orr, \u201cCommunity Organizing and the Changing Ecology of Civic Engagement\u201d in M.Orr [ed.] Transforming the City: Community Organizing and the Challenge of Political Change (Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2007): 1-27 [Blackboard or mimeo]<br \/>\n&#8211; DUE: Final Paper Outline<br \/>\nH. Community-Based Research (Thurs., Mar. 27)<br \/>\n&#8211; T.B.A.<br \/>\nI. Applied Democratic Theory\/Practice, pt.4: (Tues., April 1: A)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Fung, \u201cDown to the Neighborhoods\u201d (Ch.2); and \u201cBuilding Capacity and Accountability\u201d (Ch.3)<br \/>\nJ. Community-Based Research (Thurs., April 3)<br \/>\n&#8211; T.B.A.<br \/>\nK. Applied Democratic Theory\/Practice, pt.5: Empowered Engagement (Tues., April 8: B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Fung, \u201cChallenges to Participation\u201d (Ch.4); and \u201cDeliberation and Poverty\u201d (Ch.5)<br \/>\nL. Community-Based Research (Thurs., April 10)<br \/>\n&#8211; T.B.A.<br \/>\nM. Applied Democratic Theory\/Practice, pt.6: Empowered Engagement (Tues., April 15: A&amp;B)<br \/>\n&#8211; Reading: Fung, \u201cDeliberation in Social Conflict\u201d (Ch.6); and \u201cThe Chicago Experience and Beyond\u201d (Ch.7)<\/p>\n<p>V. Class Discussions of Research and Research Findings (Thurs., April 17, Tues., April 22 &amp; Thurs., April 24)<\/p>\n<p>VI. Final Exam Preparation Day (Tues., April 29)<br \/>\n&#8211; Final Paper Due (electronic version in dropbox)<\/p>\n<p>VII. FINAL EXAM (Wed., May 7, 9-11am)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary of the Course: Ever since the end of the Cold War, taking place in the context of, and further propelling forward, the so-called &gt;Third Wave= of democratization throughout the world, many Americans have been celebrating the global victory of democracy and capitalism. Some have even gone to war allegedly to preserve and promote this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-306846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=306846"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/306846\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=306846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=306846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=306846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}