Historical perspectives on democracy 7.5 credits

About the course

The main focus of the course is the history of democracy from antiquity to the late 20th century, both in terms of how actual political systems from different parts of the world have been organized as well as what their intellectual underpinning has looked like. Special attention will be given to the development of modern forms of democracy from the 17th century onwards. Apart from academic textbooks, students will also encounter and work with key source texts from the intellectual history of democracy in order to gain a fuller understanding of the requirements that need to be met in order to maintain different kinds of democratic systems.

The course further contains a comprehensive over-view of different theoretical models for understanding and defining democracy as well as sample of model cases from the 20th century where democracy has been challenged or put under threat. The purpose of this is to provide students with an historical perspective that will enhance their ability to identify and assess contemporary cases of challenges and threats against democracy.

The course will be given entirely in English.

Show syllabus

Apply

Autumn 2025
- Historical perspectives on democracy
  
  Second admissions round for EU/EEA citizens
  
  Autumn 2025 / Varied / English / Web-based (online)
  
  Show more Show less
  
  Starts
  1 September 2025
  
  Ends
  2 November 2025
  
  Number of credits
  7.5 credits
  
  Type of studies
  Web-based (online)
  
  Mandatory meetings
  No mandatory meetings
  
  Other meetings
  None
  
  Study pace
  50%
  
  Teaching hours
  Mixed
  
  Study location
  Varied
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-16014
  
  Outline for distance course
  Instruction consists foremost of self-governed reading and analysis of the course literature structured by a study guide made available through the course’s web-based learning platform. The course does not include lectures but students will have access to short introductions to the main themes of the course made available on the course learning platform, as well as regular opportunities for online interaction with the appointed teacher. Online mandatory graded (Pass/Fail) seminars will occur. Seminars will be conducted online in writing on the course learning platform and orally using web-based conference systems such as zoom. For students present in Umeå, seminars may be conducted on campus rather than online. In some seminars, special attention will be given to the analysis of historical source texts.
  
  Students are required to have access to a computer equipped with microphone and web-camera as well as a stable internet connection in order to facilitate online seminar attendance.
  
  Eligibility 90 ECTS credits in history or history of science and ideas, or a Degree encompassing at least 180 ECTS credits, or equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6. Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.
  
  Selection
  Academic credits
  
  Application
  Application deadline was 15 April 2025. The application period is closed. Please note: This second application round is intended only for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 12,075
  
  Total fee: SEK 12,075
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

Apply online via universityadmissions.se
You apply to our programmes and courses via universityadmissions.se – the official website for higher education applications in Sweden. There, you can track your application, check that your documents have been registered, and log in to find our your admission results.
 
Late applications
Admissions to most programmes and courses typically close after the final application deadline. However, some programmes and courses may still accept late applications if seats are available. These are marked “Open for late application” on universityadmissions.se. Please note that late applications are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

More about application and admission

Explore your future at Umeå University

Join a vibrant academic community where high-quality education meets groundbreaking research in science, technology, humanities, and the arts. At Umeå University, you will learn from passionate, expert teachers and benefit from a close connection between research, education, collaboration, and innovation.

World's most satisfied international students

#1 globally in the main categories of Living, Support, and Overall Satisfaction.
A university with health at its core

Umeå University is certified as a Healthy Campus, with many initiatives that promote health and well-being.

Questions about the course?

Subject

Describe your enquiry or ask a question

First name

Last name

Email address

Please be aware that the University is a public authority and that what you write here can be included in an official document. Therefore, be careful if you are writing about sensitive or personal matters in this contact form. If you have such an enquiry, please call us instead. All data will be treated in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.