Application deadline: October 5
Free University, The Democratic Community of Russian-speakers in Finland and the Anti-War Committee in Sweden are announcing the admissions for the free online course “Democratic Values” delivered in the Russian language and designed specifically for the representatives of Russian-speaking diasporas in Latvia, Finland, and Sweden.
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The current political situation, the diversity of information sources, and the contradictions in the narratives they transmit can influence perceptions of democracy, as well as devalue and distort the very concept. What do we mean by “democracy”? How can we distinguish a democratic political system from a non-democratic one? How can we learn not only to describe the features of democracy theoretically, but also to engage in reasoned political discussions within our communities and build persuasive arguments? How can we critically evaluate media materials and distinguish facts and opinions from propaganda? If you have been looking for answers to these questions and are ready to study and discover, then our course is for you!
The “Democratic Values” course consists of 17 weekly online lectures and discussions covering various aspects of democratic governance, civic participation, the Rule of Law, and human rights. In addition to lectures and seminars, the course includes a group project allowing the participants to create meaningful research papers under the guidance of well-known Russian-speaking specialists in political science and law and to defend them at a final online conference. You can use these projects to support both your academic work and professional development.
Course program
- First meeting, Orientation, Determination of Our Learning Goals and Expectations
- Introductory Lecture: What is Democracy?
- Democracy as a Tool for Ensuring Social Solidarity: Promises and Challenges, Achievements and Failures
- Democracy and the Separation of Powers
- Representative Democracy and Parliamentarism
- Democracy and Elections. Change of Power as a Condition of Democracy.
- Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the Rechtsstaat. Their Place in Democratic Processes. Constitution and Constitutionalism
- Judiciary and the Problems of Democracy
- Constitutional Justice as a Safeguard of Human Rights Protection
- Democracy and State Structure
- Democracy and Identity
- Minorities and Democracy: Human Rights versus the Tyranny of the Majority
- Human Rights and Private Legal Relations
- Democracy and Civil Society. The Theory of the Constrained Leviathan
- Manifestations of Democratic Principles in Civil Legal Relations
- Manifestations of Democratic Principles in the Sphere of Labor: Industrial Democracy
- Workshop “Democracy in Dialogue: The Art of Advocacy and Argumentation”
- Final session
Eligibility
We welcome participants of all ages and educational backgrounds. The only requirement is that you live in Latvia, Finland, or Sweden (regardless of citizenship), speak Russian, and wish to gain new knowledge and skills while connecting with like-minded people.
What do I need to do to be selected?
To apply for the course, you need to submit a motivation letter. The letter may include your brief biography and information about educational, professional, or civic projects you have recently participated in. If you are currently studying at a university, please mention it. Explain why you would like to participate in our course, what are your expectations, and which topics and issues related to the course interest you most. You can also describe how our course could help you in a long-term perspective.
Please send us your motivation letter in PDF format by email to [email protected]
What is the application deadline for the course?
We accept motivation letters from September 1, 2025. The application period will last until October 5.
I have a question!
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected]
The course is organized with the support of The Nordic Council of Ministers within “Empowering Communities in Latvia, Finland and Sweden: Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law for Russian speakers” initiative