DEMOCRACY (AND ITS UNCERTAIN FUTURE)
Democracy has come under stress, both at home and across the world. The global decline of democracy has accelerated over the past decade, and levels of democracy enjoyed by the average global citizen today are down to levels last found around 1990. The promise of democracy's inevitable ascent and dominance after the end of the Cold War has proven shortlived. Examines the state and future of a political system we tend to take for granted but should not. Starts with a brief overview of the evolution of the concept of democracy over time. Examines the relationship between democracy and economic development, culture, identity, and religion. Considers and compares core democratic institutions. Investigates current challenges to democracy and democratization and offers an overview of the state of democracy across different world regions.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Learning Outcomes: 1. Learn about leading definitions, classifications, and measurements of democracy Audience: Undergraduate 2. Understand the determinants of democracy Audience: Undergraduate 3. Examine democratic political systems and institutions, how they function, and how they relate to each other Audience: Undergraduate 4. Become familiar with rising threats to democracy and the prospect of autocratization Audience: Undergraduate 5. Compare different democratic systems systematically Audience: Undergraduate 6. Understand and choose proper evidence/sources to support an argument Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Learn about leading definitions, classifications, and measurements of democracy Audience: Undergraduate 2. Understand the determinants of democracy Audience: Undergraduate 3. Examine democratic political systems and institutions, how they function, and how they relate to each other Audience: Undergraduate 4. Become familiar with rising threats to democracy and the prospect of autocratization Audience: Undergraduate 5. Compare different democratic systems systematically Audience: Undergraduate 6. Understand and choose proper evidence/sources to support an argument Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027