AUTHORITARIANISM: FROM THE EARLY MODERN ERA TO THE PRESENT

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Lower-Level

This course is inspired by current events, including the rise of alt-right, populist, and authoritarian parties and governments across the globe. We begin by introducing the concept of authoritarianism: how it differs from democracy and how authoritarian regimes differ from each other. We then investigate the tools authoritarian rulers employ to maintain power, including institutions, policies, and tactics. Our aim is to understand how authoritarian regimes have appealed to voters and citizens in different places and contexts, and, crucially, how leaders have harnessed popular sentiments to their own end.