Comparative Democratization

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

When do countries make the transition from authoritarianism to democracy? How can democracy become consolidated in spite of structural and historical challenges and when do these challenges overwhelm the process? Understanding the adoption and consolidation of democracy is one of the classic subjects of political science. This course will offer students an introduction to the major theories of democratization and an opportunity to compare processes of democratization from a variety of geographic regions. We will discuss the ways in which economic, cultural, and institutional factors facilitate or inhibit processes of democratization, looking at cases of both success and failure. Professor Jennifer Dresden is the Associate Director of the Democracy & Governance Program. Her research focuses on the politics of democratization after civil war and the dynamics of hybrid regimes.