Inequality and Democracy

Utrecht University

About this Course

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Most countries are getting more and more unequal. But the core of democracy is political equality: that everyone should have an equal say in how their country is run. Can we really expect these things to go together? Can people have equal political power while economic inequality grows and grows? Take this course and decide for yourself.
You’ll learn about:
•	The rise of economic inequality
•	Property rights and the corporation
•	Democracy: Its value and history 
•	Campaign finance and lobbying
•	Tax avoidance and capital flight
•	Alternatives to our economic system

This is an interdisciplinary course combining:
•	Politics
•	Philosophy
•	Economics
•	History
•	Law

Our course is for anyone looking for an accessible introduction to these topics. You might a concerned citizen, or someone who works in a field like politics, media, education, government or law. The difficulty level is similar to the first-year of an undergraduate degree. No prior knowledge is assumed.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

No specialist background needed. A high school degree should suffice.

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Skills you will gain

EconomicsPolitical ScienceHistoryLawPhilosophy

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

No specialist background needed. A high school degree should suffice.

Approx. 21 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.83/5 (6 Ratings)

Offered by

Utrecht University

Utrecht University is a research university comprising seven faculties which collectively span the entire academic spectrum in teaching and research. Founded in 1636, the University is now a modern, leading institute enjoying a growing international reputation. In the Shanghai Ranking, Utrecht University ranks 1st in the Netherlands, 17th in Europe and 56th worldwide. The research focuses on four main strategic themes: Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability. Our motto is: Bright minds, better future.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Economic inequality

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 32 min), 5 readings, 4 quizzes

5 videos

1.0.1 Welcome to the course4m

1.1.2 Economic inequality around the world6m

1.2.1 Causes of inequality7m

1.3.1 When is inequality (un)just?6m

1.4.1 Inequality and Democracy: The road ahead7m

5 readings

1.0.2 About the course10m

1.1.1 In this week5m

1.2.2 Case study: The rise of bosses pay in the USA20m

1.3.2 The fairness of inequality: a philosophical debate15m

1.5.1 Want more?20m

4 practice exercises

1.1.3 What about you?30m

1.2.3 Causes of inequality5m

1.3.3 Theories of justice: What do you know?5m

1.4.2 Democracy at stake5m

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Property and corporations

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 26 min), 6 readings, 6 quizzes

4 videos

2.1.2 Private property as a legal construct6m

2.2.1 The business corporation as a legal construct5m

2.3.1 The superior efficiency of private property7m

2.4.1 Economic power and political power6m

6 readings

2.1.1 Property and corporations5m

2.2.2 The purpose of corporations: a historical tale10m

2.2.4 Friedman on the purpose of business20m

2.3.2 The corporation – efficiency and power15m

2.4.2 Cycles of economic and political power20m

2.5.2 Want more?5m

5 practice exercises

2.1.3 Private property – what it is(n’t)5m

2.1.4 The History of property5m

2.2.3 Do you know the business corporation?5m

2.3.3 It’s all about efficiency!5m

2.4.3 Some questions about power4m

Week

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Democracy

4 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 29 min), 8 readings, 4 quizzes

4 videos

3.1.2 Defining democracy7m

3.2.1 Democracy for the common good8m

3.3.1 Property and power in history5m

3.4.1 Political inequality today8m

8 readings

3.1.1 In this module5m

3.1.4 Characteristics of real democracies20m

3.2.2 Plato against democracy10m

3.2.4 Democracy for intrinsic reasons15m

3.3.3 Their money or their rights10m

3.4.2 Economic elite domination15m

3.4.3 Why unequal turn-out matters1m

3.5.2 Want more?5m

3 practice exercises

3.1.3 Basic ideas in democratic theory5m

3.3.2 Historical fixes15m

3.4.4 Political inequality in the UK and US10m

Week

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Lobbying and campaign finance

4 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 26 min), 6 readings, 5 quizzes

4 videos

4.1.2 An intro to campaigning and lobbying7m

4.2.1 The dominance of the rich6m

4.3.1 What are the arguments in favour?6m

4.4.1 Regulating campaign finance5m

6 readings

4.1.1 In this module5m

4.1.3 Lobbying and campaign finance around the world15m

4.2.2 Does campaign spending work?15m

4.3.2 Corruption and political inequality15m

4.4.3 Experiments with public funding15m

4.5.2 Reading: want more?5m

4 practice exercises

4.1.4 What do you know about campaigning and lobbying?10m

4.2.3 Can you tell?5m

4.3.3 Lobbying and campaign finance: pro and con5m

4.4.2 Regulations where you live30m

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Inequality and Democracy

Inequality and Democracy