New Democracies

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Between the mid-1970s and the early 1990s, a wave of democratization swept through Southern Europe, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Countries in other regions (Asia, Africa) also joined this wave at different times. Despite initial optimism about these transitions, progress towards establishing and consolidating democracy has stalled or reversed in many contexts, and democracy has still not materialized in others. This divergence among country experiences raises a host of questions about the sources, institutions, quality, and stability of democracy. This course explores the causes, sketches the patterns, weighs the future, and examines the consequences of this dramatic wave of political change. The course begins by clarifying what democracy is (and is not), and examining competing theories about the conditions and causes of the emergence of democracy. Next, we consider why democratic institutions are chosen and how they function. We then discuss various types of democracy and various aspects of democratic quality – as well as different mechanisms through which democratic leaders can be held accountable for their actions. Finally, we explore the intersection of democracy and economics, and the foundations of democratic stability. These themes are examined in a variety of settings, with a particular focus on late 20th and early 21st century Eastern Europe and Latin America (with some references to sub-Saharan Africa as well).