Authoritarianism and Democracy
This course delves into the scholarship of political regimes. Students will explore the various forms of political regimes such as authoritarianism, totalitarianism, democracy, and their sub-types, while considering theoretical and empirical perspectives. The course will start with a theoretical foundation and conceptual framework for understanding the complex nature of political regimes. Students will then gain an in-depth understanding of the empirical cases that illustrate the various types of regimes. Moreover, the course will examine the processes of regime change, including democratization, democratic backsliding, and transitions from one form of authoritarianism to another. Finally, students will explore the intriguing relationship between oil and authoritarianism. This segment of the course will investigate how oil wealth can impact the nature of authoritarian regimes, the social and economic outcomes, as well as the geopolitical consequences. By the end of this course, students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical, empirical, and practical implications of political regimes and regime change.