Instructor: Elizabeth Smythe,
Professor Emerita of Political Science

Fee: $65 Members | $80 Non-Members

Tuesdays November 17, 24, December 1, 8, and 15 at 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m.

Tools of direct democracy such as referendums, recall, initiatives and consultations with citizens are often depicted as a way to enhance the direct voice of citizens on important issues and to hold governments accountable. They are designed, it is often claimed, to counter the limits of representative democracies where those elected to represent citizens are often seen to be unresponsive to citizen’s concerns outside of election campaigns. But it is also clear that such tools can be open to manipulation and abuse, especially by authoritarian governments, who often use them to enhance their own power.

These lectures will examine the criticisms of representative democracy and critically assess tools of direct democracy drawing on examples and case studies, including that of the Alberta October 2026 referendum. They will address how vulnerable these tools are to manipulation by governments and other actors. Moreover, in the age of social media and artificial intelligence they leave citizens susceptible to disinformation produced, either for profit or in aid of foreign interference.

Finally, the course will offer suggestions as to what can be done to both address the limits of representative democracy and provide real opportunities for citizens to have a voice in ways that enhance and deepen democracy rather than threatening it.

About the instructor: Elizabeth Smythe Dr. Smythe is a professor emerita of political science. Her PhD is from Carleton University. She taught undergraduate courses in political science, including comparative, Canadian and International Politics and Canadian Foreign Policy for over 30 years at Concordia University of Edmonton until her retirement in July 2022.