Of Dictators and Democrats

Catalog description

Why are some countries democratic, while others are ruled by dictators? In this course, we answer this question by examining the different paths democratizing nations have taken. Following a theoretical overview, we examine early cases of democratic practices, then turn to study cases from each of the “waves” of democracy. In the first wave (18th and 19th centuries) we focus on the United States, testing the ability of theories to predict the emergence of American democracy. In our study of the second wave (post World War II), we investigate Germany’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. To explore the third wave (1980s to the 2000s), we examine the case of Chile. The course concludes with an examination of contemporary trends of democratic reversals and the rise of authoritarian populists. The goal of this course is to provide students with a solid understanding of the process of democratization, and the analytical tools necessary for evaluating democratic development. By the end of this course, students will be able to explain and evaluate different theories of democratization, describe key democratic milestones in the selected countries, and use this theoretical and empirical knowledge to assess current political events around the world.