Conflict and Democracy

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Does democratization offer an avenue for stabilizing politics in the wake of major armed conflict? Democracies are generally less prone to civil war than other regimes and democracy-building measures have been incorporated into most post-conflict peacebuilding efforts of the last twenty-five years. Yet both classic and contemporary research in political science has shown that the relationship between democracy and political violence is complicated. This course will explore that relationship from multiple angles, considering the circumstances under which democracy may be a solution to conflict, as well as those under which democracy may actually create incentives for violence. It will ask students to grapple with such questions as: can democratic institutions promote stable politics in divided societies? Does democracy promote or undermine peace after civil war? Can the experience of conflict promote more active citizenship?