While the idea of a social contract as the fundament of society has obviously always been a myth societal, economic and also academic developments of the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century have further deconstructed this myth.

It is the aim of this seminar to discuss these developments against the background of the idea of a social contract and to discuss possible new forms of social contracts.

Contents of the seminar:

• Definitions of Democracy
• Democracy and the Nation State
• Democracy as a concept of the Global North and democratisation of the Global South
• Developments of Democracy in the 20th and 21st century (democracy as a global empty signifier, the rise and decline of party democracy, the rise and decline of the welfare state, post-democracy)
• National Democracy and Globalized Capitalism
• Democracy and Migration
• Democracy and transnational communicative communities

All students have to develop a specific theme fitting into the overall theme of the course. This theme will be elaborated in writing and orally presented. The oral presentation can either take place in class or as part of the finals of the CDC course .

The first class on October, 6th, will take place in Seminar Room 20 in Vordere Zollamtsstraße 7. 

Students from other faculties or universities will be given a place on the course subject to room capacities.