POL2191Y1Y L5101

Undergraduate Course Code: POL491Y1Y L5101

Topics in Canadian Politics II

Democracy in Decline? Renewing Civic Engagement

Themes

“Democracy in Decline” explores different ways of assessing the ill-health and recovery of democracy, which is the art of transparently reaching “yes” among contending stakeholders. Other courses may focus on institutional remedies, involving electoral or parliamentary reform; this Course considers declines in attitudes: trust, social capital, social cohesion, reciprocity and public judgment as they affect the democratic deficit. Overall, this Course provides students with an understanding of, and possible community remedies for, their generation’s low political engagement. This is a pragmatic “how-to” Course. It teaches policy analysis, advice and briefings for a Minister in day-to-day governance. The Course Instructor uses community “coaches” -- stakeholders working in their policy environment -- to explain and develop your consultation, stakeholder mapping, issue analysis, and briefing note skills. The Course further includes the Department’s only service-learning format: a 25-hour placement with a community agency or municipal organization negotiating among many interests and priorities. Alternatively, in-Class community assignments may be possible.

Texts

Breton, A. A Fragile Social Fabric; Howe, P. Citizens Adrift TBC

Format and Requirements

2 briefing notes (50%), 1 stakeholder mapping (15%), service-learning reflections (30%), and class presentations (5%) TBC