Deepening Democracy

An email course by David Moscrop on how Canada’s democracy is failing us and what we can do fulfill its promise of delivering power to the people.

Democracy isn’t easy to establish, and it’s just as hard to extend and maintain. Constantly under construction, democracy can only survive if we work at it. But too often it is constrained, made exclusive, leaving day-to-day folks out of the process of self-government, alienating them and failing to deliver the policies and laws they want and need. This course by political theorist David Moscrop will focus on where democracy is failing us and what we can do to improve it to deliver on the promise of demos-kratos — the power of the people.

Reading #1

What is Democracy?

To begin we must understand the idea of democracy itself, the way we think of it, why that way is insufficient to preserve it, and how we may think of it differently.

Reading #2

Enriching Public Life With Participatory Democracy

For most folks, democracy in Canada is thus reduced to elections every few years. But it could be so much more. Participatory budgeting and citizens’ assemblies could enrich our public life and strengthen democracy.

Reading #3

Democratizing The Economy And Workplace

Economic democracy is a key prerequisite of political democracy. Unless resources and capacities are widely distributed, we’ll continue to see public life dominated by the few, with policy and law custom-built for elites.

Reading #4

Counting Every Vote

The case for two reforms to our voting process that would strengthen democracy in Canada at the ballot box and beyond.

Reading #1

What is Democracy?

To begin we must understand the idea of democracy itself, the way we think of it, why that way is insufficient to preserve it, and how we may think of it differently.

Reading #2

Enriching Public Life With Participatory Democracy

For most folks, democracy in Canada is thus reduced to elections every few years. But it could be so much more. Participatory budgeting and citizens’ assemblies could enrich our public life and strengthen democracy.

Reading #3

Democratizing The Economy And Workplace

Economic democracy is a key prerequisite of political democracy. Unless resources and capacities are widely distributed, we’ll continue to see public life dominated by the few, with policy and law custom-built for elites.

Reading #4

Counting Every Vote

The case for two reforms to our voting process that would strengthen democracy in Canada at the ballot box and beyond.

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