The recent erosion of democracy in countries like Zambia, Venezuela, and Poland shows that consolidated democracies do not necessarily endure. Some might backslide toward authoritarianism. How and under what conditions do democracies consolidate or break down and even “die”? How does the process of democratic consolidation affect stability or erosion? We will examine case studies around the world to analyze different paths toward and away from democracy and assess existing theories of regime change and democratic consolidation. We will study the underlying drivers of democratization and consolidation, including institutional arrangements, representation and accountability, economic determinants, as well as protest and social movements. We will also consider threats to democracy, including populist politics, corruption, clientelism, structural reforms, and democracy promotion by external forces.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Prerequisites: POL2 202 or POL2 204, and permission of the instructor.

Instructor: Contreras

Distribution Requirements: SBA - Social and Behavioral Analysis

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered

Notes: