PSCI 346Global Crisis of Democracy

This course will seek to explain why democracy has weakened and why global political development is increasingly tilting towards populist and authoritarian regimes. We study how democracy functions throughout the world and what made democracy so successful in the 20th century. We will interrogate why democracy is now floundering with political rights and civil liberties in decline and voters losing trust in democratic institutions. The course will also explore what can be done to restore the promise of democracy globally. Through research-based reading and writing assignments and in-class discussion, students will critically reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of democracy in comparison to other systems and explain the major regional differences in democratization and development.