Democracy, Violence, and Elections

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Elections are often promoted as a non-violent means of leadership succession. However, violent elections have become a common phenomenon, both in conflict countries and advanced democracies. The recent round of intimidation and unrest in the US is one instance of electoral violence. Governors in both Michigan and Virginia were targeted in a kidnapping plot, and deaths were incurred in the US Capitol assault. In conflict countries, peace builders advocate the use of elections to resolve conflict and lay the ground for democratization. Yet, unfree and/or unfair elections have led to violence, like in the US, or worse, re-ignited civil wars. Putting together the complex relationship among violence, elections, and democracy, this course introduces students to the politics surrounding elections. Throughout this course, we will examine the causes of pre- and post-election violence and the consequences of low quality elections on peace and conflict. We will also draw on examples from different parts of the world to critically examine important concepts and theories, and we will study measures of election quality to understand how they can be used to evaluate elections as well as their measurement issues, which have implications on our understanding of democracy.