Authoritarianism and Democracy

Catalog description

The course will focus on the following issues.  The first is defining democracy, dictatorship, and regimes that straddle the two (hybrids). The second is analyzing transitions to democracy, democratic breakdown and democratic consolidation. The third issue of interest is transitions to authoritarian politics and the resilience of, including challenges to, authoritarian regimes. Finally, we will also look at the relationship between regime type and other issues, such as economic performance, ethnic conflict and war. The geographical focus of the course will be broad, including the former communist world, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.