THE DISCOURSE OF DICTATORS, DEMAGOGUES & EXTREMISTS
Analyze the persuasive communication of demagogues, dictators, and extremists, including speeches, manifestos, branding, imagery, music, films, conspiracy theories, and social media campaigns. Compare the charismatic and fear-based appeals of current leaders to public figures and groups of the past. Explore and critique recurring and distinctive elements of speech. Address core questions: When people lose confidence in existing political orders, how do demagogues, dictators, and extremists emerge to exploit these uncertainties and gain power? What makes their rhetoric and leadership styles so seductive? Why are so many people willing to become loyal, often fanatical followers? How do some leaders seize and sustain state power while others spiral slowly toward self-destruction? How does studying this discourse help us understand ways to critique and counter authoritarianism and extremism today?
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Learning Outcomes: 1. Analyze the speech, performances, and writings of demagogues, dictators and both individuals and groups labeled extremists Audience: Undergraduate 2. Compare the discourse of public figures spanning from ancient Greece to the global present Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify recurring and distinctive elements of speech such as types of argument, rhetorical devices, branding, and imagery Audience: Undergraduate 4. Develop and demonstrate a critical, comparative perspective that takes a step back from, and makes sense of, the different leaders, groups, and the forms of speech studied Audience: Undergraduate 5. Recognize how elements of speech operate differently depending on historical and political contexts and when combined with other elements Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Analyze the speech, performances, and writings of demagogues, dictators and both individuals and groups labeled extremists Audience: Undergraduate 2. Compare the discourse of public figures spanning from ancient Greece to the global present Audience: Undergraduate 3. Identify recurring and distinctive elements of speech such as types of argument, rhetorical devices, branding, and imagery Audience: Undergraduate 4. Develop and demonstrate a critical, comparative perspective that takes a step back from, and makes sense of, the different leaders, groups, and the forms of speech studied Audience: Undergraduate 5. Recognize how elements of speech operate differently depending on historical and political contexts and when combined with other elements Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027