Democracy and Authoritarianism

Catalog description

This course analyses authoritarianism and democracy as the most significant political systems in the post-Cold War order. The course analyses theoretical conceptualization of these political systems. Is authoritarianism different from dictatorship and totalitarianism? What are the different types of democracy? Examples from different countries help to answer these questions. The course also analyses whether economic development brings political democracy. Modernization theory suggests that democracy is more likely to emerge in a country that modernizes economically. The course attempts to understand the relationship between economic development and democratization. Additionally, the course provides an overview of democracies and authoritarian regimes in the world today. It analyzes the V-Dem project. This project from the University of Gothenburg code numerous indicators of democracy (V-Dem). Finally, the course provides an overview of the state of democracy today, such as what do we mean by democratic backsliding?.