PO484
Democrats, Despots, and Demagogues: Transitions and Reversals
0.5 Credit

The course examines the following questions: under which conditions do democracies rise and flourish? What are the reasons for democratic erosion in the early 21st century? Are we witnessing the rise of new forms of political regimes that mix democratic with non- democratic elements together (hybrid regimes, illiberal democracies, etc)? What can we learn from the past waves of democratization and reversion to authoritarian types of government? And, to what extent do climate change and digital technology challenge our assumptions about democracy and representative government? Students will evaluate those questions through the lenses of comparative politics covering a wide range of cases, and will also engage with readings from political theory, historical sociology, and international relations.