Assessing the strength of democratic institutions associated with modern universities: the case of the Greek university
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Assessing the strength of democratic institutions associated with modern universities: the case of the Greek university Vaia Papanikolaou 1
1
& Yiannis Roussakis & Panagiotis Tzionas
2
Received: 5 January 2020 / Accepted: 14 October 2020/ # The European Higher Education Society 2020
Abstract
This paper proposes the establishment of a systematic framework for measuring dimensions of democracy within a university. It is shown that certain indicators internationally established and validated for the measurement of the institutional characteristics of democracy can, through appropriate adaptation, be transferred to the university field. A new model of mapping these characteristics to the university field was built using all available knowledge from international surveys, valid databases and researches conducted using questionnaires and structured interviews, specifically for the purposes of this paper. Chord diagrams, capable of providing meaningful dynamic graphical representations, were employed as a novel evaluative tool that highlights the existence and degree of significant interrelations between democracy indicators and democratic characteristics of the university. As a case study, we have chosen to analyze, compare and contrast the three most representative laws governing the operation of Greek universities for the last 35 years using the proposed model. Its operation, validity and capabilities were verified, after encapsulating the complex interdependencies among its variables, for a large time period, influenced by adverse social and economic changes. Thus, it can be used as an effective tool for comparisons among different universities, with respect to their democratic constitution. Keywords Democratic indicators . University characteristics . Educational policy
* Vaia Papanikolaou [email protected]
1
Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Argonafton & Filellinon, 38221 Volos, Greece
2
Department of Production Engineering and Management, International Hellenic University, P.O Box 141, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Tertiary Education and Management
Introduction Democracy is based on a set of independent institutions that should inspire confidence to the people (Sarris 2015) and advocate respect for human freedom as well as social and individual autonomy (Castoriadis 1987). In a democratically established society these institutions should at least encompass the following conceptual dimensions: (i) independence of the judiciary system (ii) a functioning state with the power to enforce the law and an authority acceptable to society, and iii) an established accountability system for the state officials (Fukuyama 2018; Hodgson 2006). Key quality characteristics that contribute to the objective determination of what is meant by a democratic constitution of a society are considered the following: trust in the institutions (Fukuyama 2018), the participation of all “citizens” in public and electoral processes, protecting the secrecy of the vote and the protection of freedom of expression and p
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