This course offers intensive comparative study of the wave of democratization that has swept much of Latin America, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during the past two decades. The course will analyze the theoretical literatures on regime change and compare the experiences of countries emerging from bureaucratic authoritarianism, military rule, and socialism. How do political culture, social structure and socio-economic development, constitutional systems, and international pressures affect attempts to build democratic institutions in polities recently emerging from authoritarian rule? We will investigate, among other topics: the meaning of democracy- the factors that facilitate or impede democratic transition- the roles and strategies of mass movements and elites in the process of democratization- problems of nationalism and ethnic conflict in transitions- the relationship between democratization and economic systems- and the possible limits of democratization and risks of authoritarian reversion.
There are no formal prerequisites, but the course is recommended only for juniors and seniors who possess some background and an interest in comparative politics.