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Předmět, akademický rok 2023/2024
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Elites in Society - JSM301
Anglický název: Elites in Society
Zajišťuje: Katedra veřejné a sociální politiky (23-KVSP)
Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
Platnost: od 2023
Semestr: zimní
E-Kredity: 9
Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:ústní
Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:1/1, Zk [HT]
Počet míst: neomezen / neurčen (25)
Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
4EU+: ne
Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
Stav předmětu: vyučován
Jazyk výuky: angličtina
Způsob výuky: prezenční
Způsob výuky: prezenční
Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán
povolen pro zápis po webu
při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
Garant: doc. PhDr. Pavol Frič, Ph.D.
Vyučující: doc. PhDr. Pavol Frič, Ph.D.
Třída: Courses not for incoming students
Anotace - angličtina
Poslední úprava: doc. Mgr. Martin Hájek, Ph.D. (26.11.2019)
The main aim of the course is to give answer on the question about the role of elites in the process of societal transition in the Czech Republic as a one of the Central European post-communistic country. On the background of elite and leadership theories the course will critically examine the Czech post-communist elites in the context of democratic transition, social and economic consolidation and modernization of the Czech society. In this respect it emphasized the importance of the relationships among different elite sectors and also between elite and non-elites. The goal of the course is to show how the problems of moral leadership, systemic corruption and plebeian anti-elitism deform not only society accountability system bud the whole democracy regime. The course offer summarized empirical knowledge about the quality of elites, their leadership capital, collective mentalities, values orientations and social cohesion.
Cíl předmětu - angličtina
Poslední úprava: doc. Mgr. Martin Hájek, Ph.D. (03.02.2020)

By the end of the course, the attendants will have acquired:

  • understanding the foundations of elite and leadership theories and their possible applications in the post-communist transition analysis.
  • knowledge about historical and cultural background of elite change after the "Velvet Revolution"
  • an awareness of the relationship between elite and leadership, between elite and non-elites and between elite and the process of catch-up post-communist modernization
  • understanding the role of post-communist elite in the transition to democracy and market economy in the Czech Republic
  • knowledge about different elite segments cohesion and its consequences on democracy stability in the Czech Republic.
Podmínky zakončení předmětu - angličtina
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Pavol Frič, Ph.D. (08.09.2022)

TEACHING METHOD

The lectures will be held in person.

 

Between individual lectures, students are required to read compulsory texts. One text for compulsory reading will be assigned to each lecture. All compulsory reading texts are available to students at Moodle.

 

Students will write homework in the form of answers to questions on the content of compulsory texts. They will submit the written assignments (of approximately 15 lines) at least one day before each lecture to the "Task Folder" created in Moodle.

 

Each new lecture will begin with a discussion of the students´ answers to the homework questions.

 

At the end of the semester, each student will produce approximately 6 pages of homework text, which will be the subject of evaluation.

 

The final exam will take place in the form of final text of a minimum 6.000 and a maximum of 7.000 words. The topics of the final text are strictly limited by the content framework of the individual lectures of the course. The genre of the work is an essay, or rather a reflection on the problems of relations between elites and non-elites in the Czech Republic after Velvet Revolution (1989).

 

EVALUATION

- written answers to homework questions = max. 45 points

- final essay = max. 55 points

 

The subject of the evaluation of the essay will be:

 

The evaluation of the essay will follow the following criteria:

-          Formal aspects                       = 5 points

-          Choice of problem                 = 5 points

-          Analysis                                 = 15 points

-          Logic of argumentation         = 20 points

-          Message                                 = 10 points

To complete the course, the student must achieve at least 51 points!

 

The rating scale has six degres:

·    91 %  and more =>         A

·    81-90 %            =>          B

·    71-80 %            =>          C

·    61-70 %            =>          D

·    51-60 %            =>          E

·    0-50 %              =>          F

If the student does not get the required number of points on the first attempt (given by the sum of points for answers and for final text), then s/he has two more options to correct the essay according to the teacher's recommendations. Corrections of homework are not allowed.

Literatura - angličtina
Poslední úprava: PhDr. Petr Bednařík, Ph.D. (13.08.2020)

Core Mandatory Texts:

Frič, P., Bednařík A. 2010. Leadership in Czech Elites. In: Pavol Frič et al. "Czech Elites General Public: and Leadership, Cohesion, and Democracy"

Frič, P., Nekola, M. 2010. Cohesion and Sustainability of Democratic elites. In: Pavol Frič et al. "Czech Elites and General Public: Leadership, Cohesion, and Democracy"

Lengyel, György 2007.Notes on The "Quality Of Elites". In: György Lengyel at all. Elites in Central-Eastern Europe, Budapest: Friedrich Ebert Foundation, pp.5-12

Machonin, P. and M. Tuček 2000. "New Elites and Social Change". In J. Higley and G. Lengyel 2000. Elites after State Socialism. Theories and Analysis. Lanham, Boulder, New York, Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

 

Further recommended readings

Bachrach Peter. 1969. The Theory of Democratic Elitism. London: University of London Press Limited.

Bard, Alexander a Jan Söderqvist. 2002. Netocracy - The New Power Elite and Life after Capitalism. London: Reuters/Pearson Education.

Blondel, Jean. 1987. Political leadership - Towards a General Analysis. London: Sage.

Bozóki, András. 2003. "Theoretical Interpretations of Elite Change in East Central Europe" in Mattei Dogan (ed.), Elite Configurations at the Apex of Power. Leiden - Boston: Brill, 215-248

Burns, MacGregor J. 1978. Leadership. New York: Harper & Row.

Dogan, M. & Higley, J. 1998. "Elites, Crises, and Regimes in Comparative Analysis" in M. Dogan & J. Higley (eds.), Elites, Crises, and the Origins of Regimes. Lanham: Rowman &Littlefield, 3-27.

Field, Lowell G. a John Higley. 1980. Elitism. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Frič, P., Nekola, M. 2010. Cohesion and Sustainability of Democratic elites. In: Pavol Frič et al. "Czech Elites and General Public: Leadership, Cohesion, and Democracy"

Gil Eyal. 2000. ‘Anti-politics and the Spirit of Capitalism: Dissidents, Monetarists, and the Czech Transition to Capitalism’, Theory and Society, Vol. 29. No. 1. February, 50-92.

Havel, Václav. 1985. "The Power of the Powerless" in Václav Havel et al.: The Power of the Powerless. Edited by John Keane. London: Hutchinson, 23-61.

Higley, J., and M. Burton. 1997. Types of Elites in Postcommunist Eastern Europe. International Politics 34:153-168.

Lash, Christopher. 1995. The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy. New York: W.W.Norton & Copany.

Lazarsfeld, Paul, Bernard Brelson a Hazel Gaudet. 1948. The People´s Choice. New York: Columbia University Press.

Matějů. Petr., ‘Who Has Gotten Ahead After the Fall of Communism? The Case of the Czech Republic,’ Czech Sociological Review, Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 1995

Michels, R. 1962. Political parties: A sociological study of the oligarchical tendencies of modern democracy. New York: Free Press.

Mills, Charles W. 1956. The Power Elite. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956

Mosca Gaetano, The Ruling Class Elementi di Scienza Politica, Edited and revised, with an introduction by Arthur Livingston (Translated by Hannah D. Kahn) McGraw-Hill, New York, 1939.

Pakulski, Jan, Kullberg, Judith S. Higley, John. 1996. The Persistence of Postcommunist Elites, Journal of Democracy - Volume 7, Number 2, April 1996, pp. 133-147

Pakulski, Jan and John Higley. Towards Leader Democracy? http://epress.anu.edu.au/anzsog/public_leadership/mobile_devices/index.html

Pareto, Vilfredo. 1968. The Rise and Fall of the Elites. An Application of Theoretical Sociology. Totowa, New Jersey: The Bedminster Press.

Rost, Joseph C. 1993. Leadership for the Twenty-First Century. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers.

Szelényi, Iván & Szonja Szelényi. 1995. "Circulation or Reproduction of Elites During the Postcommunist Transformation of Eastern Europe" Theory and Society, Vol. 24. No. 5. October, 615-38

Wasilewski, Jacek, Elite Circulation and Consolidation of Democracy in Poland [in:] Higley, J., Pakulski, J., Wesołowski, W. (1998) Postcommunist Elites and Democracy in Eastern Europe, MacMillan Press Ltd, London.

 

Metody výuky - angličtina
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Pavol Frič, Ph.D. (08.09.2022)

TEACHING METHOD

The lectures will be held in person.

 

Between individual lectures, students are required to read compulsory texts. One text for compulsory reading will be assigned to each lecture. All compulsory reading texts are available to students at Moodle.

 

Students will write homework in the form of answers to questions on the content of compulsory texts. They will submit the written assignments (of approximately 15 lines) at least one day before each lecture to the "Task Folder" created in Moodle.

 

Each new lecture will begin with a discussion of the students´ answers to the homework questions.

 

At the end of the semester, each student will produce approximately 6 pages of homework text, which will be the subject of evaluation.

 

The final exam will take place in the form of final text of a minimum 6.000 and a maximum of 7.000 words. The topics of the final text are strictly limited by the content framework of the individual lectures of the course. The genre of the work is an essay, or rather a reflection on the problems of relations between elites and non-elites in the Czech Republic after Velvet Revolution (1989).

 

EVALUATION

- written answers to homework questions = max. 45 points

- final essay = max. 55 points

 

The subject of the evaluation of the essay will be:

 

The evaluation of the essay will follow the following criteria:

-          Formal aspects                       = 5 points

-          Choice of problem                 = 5 points

-          Analysis                                 = 15 points

-          Logic of argumentation         = 20 points

-          Message                                 = 10 points

To complete the course, the student must achieve at least 51 points!

 

The rating scale has six degres:

·    91 %  and more =>         A

·    81-90 %            =>          B

·    71-80 %            =>          C

·    61-70 %            =>          D

·    51-60 %            =>          E

·    0-50 %              =>          F

If the student does not get the required number of points on the first attempt (given by the sum of points for answers and for final text), then s/he has two more options to correct the essay according to the teacher's recommendations. Corrections of homework are not allowed.

                                                                           6

Sylabus - angličtina
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Pavol Frič, Ph.D. (19.09.2023)

SYLLABUS

 

Course: JSB701

 

“Elite in Transforming Society”

 

AIMS

The main aim of the course is to give answer on the question about the role of elites in the process of societal transition in the Czech Republic as a one of the Central European post-communistic country. On the background of elite and leadership theories the course will critically examine the role of post-communist elites in the processes of democratic transition and recent process of democratic backsliding. In this respect it emphasized the importance of the relationships among different elite sectors and also between elite and non-elites or general public. The goal of the course is to show how the problems of moral leadership, systemic corruption and plebeian anti-elitism deform not only society accountability system bud the whole democracy regime. The course offer summarized empirical knowledge about the quality of elites, their leadership capital, collective mentalities, values orientations, elite cohesion, systemic corruption and ascendancy of populist leaders and society polarization.

 

OBJECTIVES:         By the end of the course, the attendants will have acquired:

1.     understanding the foundations of elite and leadership theories and their possible applications in the post-communist transition analysis.

2.     knowledge about historical and cultural background of elite change after the “Velvet Revolution”

3.     knowledge about different elite segments cohesion and its consequences on democracy stability in the Czech Republic.

4.     understanding of new democratic political elite failure as a consequence of institutional mechanisms supportive for systemic corruption and ascendance of populist leaders

5.     an awareness of the relationship between elite and leadership, between elite and non-elites, between elite and “populist revolution” and between populism and democratic erosion in post-communist countries.

 

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

 

1. Introduction: Elite Theory and Democracy – Elite Definitions, Mosca (ruling class), Pareto (elite circulation, Lions and Foxes, Inovators and Consolidators), Democratic Elitism (Higley), Demoelitism (Halevy), Relational Elite Theory – The Role of Non-Elites in Elite Theory, Revolt of the Masses (secessio plebis, crowd man) and Revolt of the Elites (Lash) Elite and Stratification Theory

 

2. Historical Roots – Mythology, Brave – Dark Old World, Communist Darkness, Czech Communist Elite and Dissidence, Nomenklatura, Regime Reformers (Prague Spring 1968), “Normalization”, Old Elite Moral Decline, Dissent, Intellectuals, Anti-Politics (Havel), Velvet Revolution, Dissidents and Technocrats (Eyal)

 

3. Elite Change and Societal Transformation –  Elite, Crises and Regime Change (Dogan and Higley), Grey Zone, The Old and New Elite (persistence of “nomenklatura cadres”,  Type of Elite Change (circulation or reproduction – Szelényi, Szelényi), Elite Social and Cultural Capital (Bourdieu), Elite led transformation, its winners and losers

 

4. Power Elite and Civil Society (CSOs) Relations - process of democracy consolidation, civil society under communism, Civil society ideology, building the system of political parties, forming style of governing, trust to politicians, potiticians attitudes to civil society leaders, Václav Havel vs. Václav Klaus. Political Leaders, Public opinion Leaders, Civil Society Leaders

 

5. Leadership and Elite Quality – Classic Leadership Theories, Leaders of Crowds and Masses (LeBon, Freud) Leaders of Working Class (Marx), party leaders (Michels) charismatic leadership (Weber), Great Man Theory, leadership reputation (Dowding), Leadership Capital

 

6. Leadership and Democracy – The Leaderless Democracy (Weber), Competition of Political Leaders (Schumpeter) Leadership and Followership – The New Leadership Paradigm, Leadership Styles: Democratic-Authoritative (Lewin), Transforming Leadership (Burns)

 

7. Elite Cohesion and Democracy – United Power Elite (Mills), Elite Configuration - Structural Integration and Consensus (Higley), Informal Elite Networks, Elite Circles, Inner Elite Circle (Useem), Democratic Elite Cohesion and its Sustainability

 

8. Elite and Moral LeadershipElite Degeneration (Pareto) – The Czech Systemic Corruption, Elite Predatory Networks, State Capture + Business Capture, Simulated Democracy (Lengyel), Deffective Democracy () Sate-ting Democracy

 

9. Non-Elite Degeneration – The real public (Mills), Phantom Public (Lipmann), Public Darknes (Dewey), Elite and Non-Elite Role in the Societal Accountability System, The Quiet Pact between Elite and Non-Elite in the communist era and in the democratic era,

 

10. Elitism and Anti-Elitism – Elitism as Obligation (Field, Higley), The Czech Elite Historical Discontinuity, The Czech Elite Mentalities (Aristocratic and Plebeian), Plebiscit Leader (Weber), Plebeian Leaders (LeBon), Populist leaders

 

11. Populism – theory of populism, ideational and performative perspective, populist mobilization, populist attitudes, populist leadership style (the role of emotions), entrepreneurial (technocratic) and presidency populism in the Czech Republic.

 

12. Populism and Democracy – is populism hope or threat to democracy? populism and political participation, populism and civil society organizations, power structure, society polarization, accountability, attacks on civil society.

 

13. Future of Elites-Non-Elites relationships  – How democracy can gain immunity against the virus of populism and how could it be resilient against corruption and clientelism? What is the role of elites, civil society organizations, non-elite citizens and political leaders in the process of democracy revitalization?

 

TEACHING METHOD

The lectures will be held in person.

 

Between individual lectures, students are required to read compulsory texts. One text for compulsory reading will be assigned to each lecture. All compulsory reading texts are available to students at Moodle.

 

Students will write homework in the form of answers to questions on the content of compulsory texts. They will submit the written assignments (of approximately 15 lines) at least one day before each lecture to the "Task Folder" created in Moodle.

 

Each new lecture will begin with a discussion of the students´ answers to the homework questions.

 

At the end of the semester, each student will produce approximately 6 pages of homework text, which will be the subject of evaluation.

 

The final exam will take place in the form of final text of a minimum 6.000 and a maximum of 7.000 words. The topics of the final text are strictly limited by the content framework of the individual lectures of the course. The genre of the work is an essay, or rather a reflection on the problems of relations between elites and non-elites in the Czech Republic after Velvet Revolution (1989).

 

EVALUATION

- written answers to homework questions = max. 45 points

- final essay = max. 55 points

 

The subject of the evaluation of the essay will be:

 

The evaluation of the essay will follow the following criteria:

-          Formal aspects                       = 5 points

-          Choice of problem                 = 5 points

-          Analysis                                 = 15 points

-          Logic of argumentation         = 20 points

-          Message                                 = 10 points

To complete the course, the student must achieve at least 51 points!

 

The rating scale has six degres:

·    91 %  and more =>         A

·    81-90 %            =>          B

·    71-80 %            =>          C

·    61-70 %            =>          D

·    51-60 %            =>          E

·    0-50 %              =>          F

If the student does not get the required number of points on the first attempt (given by the sum of points for answers and for final text), then s/he has two more options to correct the essay according to the teacher's recommendations. Corrections of homework are not allowed.

 

ELECTRONIC SUPPORT

At Moodles, students will also find presentations for particular lectures, including questions to answer, as well as all study texts for compulsory reading.

 

 

COMPULSORY TEXTS:

 

1. Introduction: Elite Theory and Democracy

Joseph Femia (1995). Pareto's Concept of Demagogic Plutocracy. Government and Opposition, 30, pp 370-392.

 

2. Historical Roots

Jiřina Šiklová (1990), ‘The “Gray Zone” and the Future of Dissent in Czechoslovakia’, Social Research, Vol. 57. No. 2. Summer, 343-367.

 

3. Elite Change and Societal Transformation

Szelényi, Iván & Szonja Szelényi (1995), „Circulation or Reproduction of Elites During the Postcommunist Transformation of Eastern Europe” Theory and Society, Vol. 24. No.    5. October, 615-38.

 

4. Power Elite and Civil Society (CSOs) Relations

Potůček, M. 1999. Havel versus Klaus: Public Policy Making in the Czech Republic. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice 1:163-176.

 

5. Leadership and Elite Quality

Jennifer L. Hochschild Published online: 09 Jul 2013. Should the Mass Public Follow Elite Opinion? It Depends… Critical Review: A Journal of Politics and Society, 24:4, 527-543, DOI: 10.1080/08913811.2012.788280

 

6. Leadership and Democracy

Jan Pakulski and John Higley (2008). Towards Leader Democracy? In P. ‘t Hart and J. Uhr, eds., Public Leadership: Perspectives and Practices. Canberra: ANU E Press, 45-56.

 

7. Elite Cohesion and Democracy 

Ilkka Ruostetsaari (2006). Coexistence of Elites and Democracy in an Information Society. Comparative Studies of Social and Political Elites.

 

8. Elite and Moral Leadership

Higley, J. and Pakulski, J. (2011). Do Ruling Elites Degenerate? American and British Elites Viewed Through Pareto’s Lens. Comparative Sociology. International Journal of Comparative Sociology, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 949-67.

 

9. Non-Elite Degeneration

Milan Školník (2020). Corruption and Political Participation: A Review. Sociální studia / Social Studies, Vol 17, No 1 (2020), str. 89-105.

 

10. Elitism and Anti-Elitism

Higley, J.  And Pakulski, J. Elite, Elitism and Elite Theory: Unending Confusion?

 

11. Populism

Cas Mudde1 and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser 2018. Studying Populism in Comparative Perspective: Reflections on the Contemporary and Future Research Agenda. Comparative Political Studies 1–27.

 

12. Populism and Democracy

Gerim, G. (2018). Re-thinking Populism within the Borders of Democracy. Italian Sociological Review, 8 (3), 423-443.

 

 

 

 
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