Around the world, questions and doubts abound regarding the durability of democratic governments in the 21st century. The United States retains its status as a military superpower but has fallen to number 26 on the democracy index and is now rated as “flawed.” In existing democracies, citizens charge elected officials with elitism and responsibility for dismantling the social contract. Nationalist groups have angrily challenged economic policies, asserting that the system is contrived to only benefit those at the top. Will democracy hold? And can we uncover those democratic principles which navigated the turmoil of the past, in time for today's challenges?
NOTE: Democracy and Democratic Principles: Part I is recommended, but not a prerequisite for this course.