POL239   Autocracies and Democracies   (20 credits)

Description

This module looks at autocracies and democracies and investigates several aspects of regime transitions. It highlights the complexities associated with defining and measuring regimes. It examines numerous theories and modes of transition to democracy. It analyses the difficulties and challenges of building democracies and asks when (or if) democratisation is complete. It looks at various institutional arrangements and their effects on different regime types. It analyses the persistence and performance of authoritarian regimes. It discusses threats to democracies and reversals to authoritarianism. The module uses extensively examples from around the world to analyse transitions and question various theories.

Reading List