PO 360 - Comparative Democratization

This advanced seminar course explores a form of government - democracy – that is much celebrated by today’s politicians, pundits, and scholars, but whose nuances and complexities frequently are not well understood. What does it mean to be democratic? How can a country foster democracy? What factors affect its chances of success? The course explores these questions and more. It approaches democracy as a process, one that is constantly changing and never “finished.” It examines democratization conceptually, historically, and regionally. In addition, it considers contemporary issues in democracy promotion, such as religious fundamentalism, post-conflict situations, and the widespread use of technologies such as social media.

Four credits.