This course seeks to philosophically pursue a richly interconnected set of questions.

What is the relation between democracy as a political ideal and our capacity as a society to respect and foster plurality? If democracy is a form of mass rule then how can it honour and do justice to cultural and individual differences? Can we think critically about our conceptions of democracy and our conceptions of difference in ways that might give us new approaches to problems of multiculturalism, of the place of religion in secular societies, or of racially based exclusion? What is the place of tolerance in addressing our differences? and which political models can help us best in identifying the major issues faced by democratic nations today?

The course aims to facilitate the development of (1) intellectual discrimination: the ability to pick out key points; to show a sense of the issues, to imaginatively relate ideas to contemporary issues 92) intellectual control: mastery of the material; coherent organisation; sensitivity to the use of concepts; ability to construct an argument/interpretation (3) techniques for engaging with challenging reading and going deeper into the insights and problems it poses (4) a suitable  amount and quality of guided but independent research in the area of study, supported by proper notes and bibliography.

1,000 word article review (25%), 2,500 word essay (55%), tutorial presentation (10%) and tutorial participation (10%).

Participation in this course requires as a minimum: attendance and positive contribution to tutorials; 1 oral presentation; submission of assignments within deadlines or as agreed with the lecturer. Face to face teaching in the course consists of two lectures each week and a tutorial. Along with the minimum requirements, it is expected that students will:

• attend each lecture.
• catch up on the occasional lecture by listening to the digital recording on Web CT.
• prepare for each tutorial by reading and preparing questions (approx 4 hours each week)
• spend approximately 50 hours researching and completing assignments

This level of participation can be expected to amount to around 11 hours of work each week.

Completion of:
(a) two courses of Philosophy; or
(b) two courses in Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology or Gender, Sexuality and Culture; or
(c) with permission of the Coordinator.