POLb1003 Democracy, Autocracy and Ideology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
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. Šárka Pittnerová (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
Wed 19. 2. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 26. 2. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 5. 3. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 12. 3. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 19. 3. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Wed 26. 3. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 2. 4. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 9. 4. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 16. 4. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 23. 4. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 30. 4. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 7. 5. 12:00–13:40 Aula, Wed 14. 5. 12:00–13:40 Aula
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
POLb1003/01: Mon 10. 3. 10:00–11:40 U53, Mon 24. 3. 10:00–11:40 U53, Mon 31. 3. 10:00–11:40 U53
POLb1003/02: Mon 10. 3. 12:00–13:40 P22, Mon 24. 3. 12:00–13:40 P22, Mon 31. 3. 12:00–13:40 P22
POLb1003/03: Mon 10. 3. 16:00–17:40 U35, Mon 24. 3. 16:00–17:40 U35, Mon 31. 3. 16:00–17:40 U35
POLb1003/04: Tue 11. 3. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 25. 3. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 1. 4. 16:00–17:40 U41
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! POL112 Democracy and Doctrines && !NOW( POL112 Democracy and Doctrines )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
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 environmentalism and ecologism.
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 ecologism)
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. Environmentalism and Ecologism
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
  • HLOUŠEK, Vít a Lubomír KOPEČEK. Demokracie : Teorie, modely, osobnosti, podmínky, nepřátelé a perspektivy demokracie. 2. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2007 (vybrané strany).
  • ŘÍCHOVÁ, Blanka. Přehled moderních politologických teorií. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2000. (vybrané strany).
  • Hloušek, V. – Kopeček, L. – Šedo, J.: Politické systémy. Brno 2011 (vybrané strany).
  • BALÍK, Stanislav and Michal KUBÁT. Teorie a praxe nedemokratických režimů. 2., přeprac. vyd. Praha: Dokořán, 2012, 215 s. ISBN 9788073632663. info
  • HEYWOOD, Andrew. Politické ideologie. Translated by Zdeněk Masopust. 4. vyd. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2008, 362 s. ISBN 9788073801373. 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 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/POLb1003