Theory of representative democracy
Proposed to be offered next in 1998
Harry Redner
8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Clayton
Objectives On successful completion of this subject students should have an understanding of the nature, workings and history of their own form of government liberal representative democracy. They should be able to appreciate the virtues and failings of this form of government, not only in relation to their own society, but in considerable historical depth across numerous societies and various states.
Synopsis This subject will examine the functioning of representative democracy from a historical and theoretical point of view. The origins of this form of government will be located in the American and French revolutions. A number of subsequent transformations will be explored, such as classical liberalism, elitist democracy and pluralism. Present problems of democracy will be examined under the heading of the crisis of representation. Some possible future developments will be suggested as solutions to these problems. The subject tries to educate students on the history and basic principles underlying their own system of government.
Assessment Essay (3000 words): 40%
* Tutorial attendance and oral
presentation: 10%
* Examination: (3 hours) 50%
Prescribed texts
Birch A H Representation Pall Mall, 1971
Held D Models of democracy Polity, 1987
Lindblom C E The policy-making process Prentice-Hall, 1980
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