PLSC 306: Democratization and Democratic Breakdown

This class examines democratic transitions and democratic erosions worldwide. When examining the issue of democratic transitions, we will try to understand why, how and when do they occur, while also paying special attention to political, cultural, social and economic conditions that foster good democratic governance. Students will learn to identify the key attributes of democracy in both theory and practice, and gain an understanding of how political scientists measure democracy. This course will also examine the conditions under which once consolidated democracies, erode. Our analytical focus will therefore turn to critically analyzing developments in economically well-developed countries, including the United States, that undermine democratic institutional structures. Both processes – democratization and democratic erosion – will include case studies from various regions in order to better understand their causes and consequences. Staff