Experts and Democracy

The course explores the role played by experts in modern policymaking. The point of departure is a democratic dilemma. On the one hand, expert knowledge is crucial for politicians to make wise and good decisions. On the other hand, there is a risk that experts come to dominate at the expense of citizen influence. 

The course examines different theoretical perspectives on the meaning of key concepts like democracy, experts, and expert knowledge. It also highlights the relationship between them, and how they matter in different stages of the political decision-making process, and in different political institutions at the local, national and super-national level. The theoretical insights are also applied to concrete policy issues.

Literature (pdf, new window)
Syllabus (pdf, new window)