Democracy and its Complexities I (or Lecture of the Two Georges)

I.                 Democracy – a slippery concept.

a) Everybody claims democracy

·      GDR and the inner city.

II.             Three push-button elements of democracy.

a) Freedom

                                                           i.      ‘Freedom from’ and ‘freedom to’.

                                                        ii.      Locating boundaries of freedom.

b)Equality

                                                           i.      Equality shifts with our social values

                                                        ii.      Political equality vs. economic inequality

c) Solidarity

                                                           i.      Our common political fate and mutual obligations.

                                                        ii.      Rethinking freedom and equality

·      Equality of opportunity vs. Equality of Chance

 III.         Wrap up: why solidarity and equality make us think about politics.