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PSCI 250Comparative Politics: Democracy and Authoritarianism

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Political Science

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course introduces students to the concepts of comparative politics. including state, nation, regime type, democracy, and authoritarianism. The course will expose students to different democratic and authoritarian regimes around the world and will examine how the design of political institutions ensures the survival and longevity of these regimes. The course also grapples with the question of how political regimes transition from authoritarianism to democracy and why they might backslide. Students will learn how to use the comparative method to analyze contemporary political systems in a research-based assignment.

Prerequisites

  • Students must be in level 1B or higher

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Reviewed on UW Flow

83% liked it15% easy90% useful

From 6 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Prof. Mufti organized the course in a way that a different topic was examined every week and you were to compare the topic in different countries. The topics were all very interesting and the assigned readings are by-far the best ones I've come across in all of my PSCI courses. She does a great job of presenting a different perspective than what is the cultural norm, and she does it in a way that you don't find her views radical, while being educated about a different perspective that you might not have been exposed to prior.
    The quizs are very easy and participation marks are also easy to get. She is however a bit tough & vague on her markings with papers, I had to argue for mine and she…

    Jan 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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