This course will situate the civil discourse of democracy in the larger context of political discourse in general. Drawing comparatively from a diverse array of political systems, we will explore why democracy is currently in crisis, what the central role of civil/political discourse is in the context of democratic governance, and how the revival and expansion of civil/political discourse is essential to the project of restoring trust in democratic institutions.

Darren Zook teaches in political science and global studies at UC Berkeley. His areas of interest include comparative politics, human rights, international law, and cybersecurity. He has received numerous teaching awards for his creativity in the classroom, and most recently was named as one of the “Top Ten Most Inspiring Professors at UC Berkeley” by the popular online journal College Magazine. He has lectured all around the world and has traveled extensively in the course of his professional work. Zook has published six books, and is currently at work on a research project involving the politics of ice in the era of climate change.