An analytical study of the essential constitutive elements of democracy, its concepts and theoretical frameworks, including different conceptions of democratic practice and institutions. To be also discussed are the relation between liberalism and democracy, the concept of citizenship, individual and group rights, methods of protecting rights of all without exception. The course will also deal with the concepts of freedom and equality, social and economic rights, and how these concepts have been implemented in different historical periods. There will also be criticism of 20th century democracy from the standpoint of multiple theoretical frames. Of particular interest will be the use of democratic discourses as instruments of foreign policy.