Class Democracy, National and European Citizenship

Within the scope of this master’s in International Relations it is important to reflect on democracy and citizenship along with the challenges that lie ahead in the Western world, its crib. In a moment of our history where the own political heritage is at stake it is our goal to put in perspective democracy and citizenship, preserving them, but acknowledging that the emergence of new political actors and the enlargement of public sphere along the need to comply the legitimate aspirations of citizens demand credible and fair responses. In addition to studying the models of democracy and citizenship throughout history it is essential to reflect on the directions of an increasingly digital and transnational democracy and citizenship and respective impacts in political life.   

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- Democracy and citizenship: conceptual sketch - Classic origins of democracy - Democratic conceptions: liberal, pluralist, participative and deliberative models - Functioning of democracy: delegation and accountability - Quality of democracy: inquire the process, contents and democratic outcomes - Classic conceptions of citizenship - Constitutional instruments for exercise and defense of citizenship - The challenges of post-national citizenship - Citizenship in a communication society in the digital age - Citizenship towards democratic challenges: post-democracy, populism and hybrid regimes

Theoretical classes aiming presentation and interpretation of nuclear concepts of the subject. Participation and constructive discussion will be encouraged to students as syllabus is presented. Bibliography will be indicated in order to enrich debate in classes. Evaluation consists of the following mandatory elements: an individual presentation and comments of main ideas of an article/chapter/book that directly discusses a topic of the subject; in the end of the semester each student will make a presentation summarizing the results of the paper whose topic regards to syllabus and that was previously identified to the Professor. The absence of one of these evaluation elements by the student determines his retention.

Carvalhais, I. E. (2005). Os Desafios da Cidadania Pós-Nacional. Porto: Edições Afrontamento. Castells, M. (2004). A Galáxia Internet. Reflexões sobre Internet, Negócios e Sociedade. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Dahl, R. (1998). On Democracy. New Haven: Yale University Press. Diamond, L. & Morlino L. (eds) (2005). Assessing the Quality of Democracy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Habermas, J (2002). Racionalidade e Comunicação. Coimbra: Edições Almedina. Held, D. (2006). Models of Democracy. Cambridge: Polity. Keane, J. (2022). Breve História da Democracia. Lisboa: Editorial Presença. Santos, J. A. (org.) (2020). Política e Democracia na Era Digital. Lisboa: Parsifal. StrØm, K., Müller, W. C., Bergman, T. (eds.) (2003). Delegation and Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.