Catalog Course Description

This course offers a comparative study of the wave of democratization that swept much of Latin America, Southern Europe, East Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union during the past three decades. The course will analyze the theoretical literatures on regime change and compare experiences of countries emerging from bureaucratic authoritarianism, military rule, personalistic dictatorships, and state socialism. In addition to dealing with democratization, the course will address the reverse phenomenon, meaning movement from more democratic to more authoritarian regimes, a tendency that has been increasingly evident during the past decade. We will investigate, among other topics: the meaning of democracy and authoritarianism, the factors that facilitate or hinder democratization, the roles of mass movements, the significance of constitutional arrangements, problems of nationalism and ethnic conflict, and the relationship between economic transformation and political regime change.

Fall Term

7.5 hours of Outside Work Hours per week and 1.5 hours of The exchange of opinions or questions on course material per week and 3 hours of Instructor presentation of course materials per week.

Summer Term

2 hours of The exchange of opinions or questions on course material per week and 8 hours of Instructor presentation of course materials per week and 20 hours of Outside Work Hours per week.

Spring Term

7.5 hours of Outside Work Hours per week and 1.5 hours of The exchange of opinions or questions on course material per week and 3 hours of Instructor presentation of course materials per week.