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Democratization and Survival of Autocrats - IRS390/IRS690 Spring 2026
Course
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Pelin Musil
In the late 20th century, the world has experienced waves of transition to democracy from autocratic political regimes. While some countries adopted "hybrid forms of regime types" some others achieved "democratic consolidation." In the last ten years, scholars have started noting a reverse global trend called "autocratization," a process observed both in strong and weak democracies in different continents. This course gives a broad overview of the literature explaining the patterns of democratization and autocratization from a comparative perspective. Why do some countries democratize or autocratize while others do not experience any regime change? How do autocracies survive, how do democracies die? In what way do the processes of autocratization or democratization vary across different country contexts and what are some observable common patterns? Asking such questions, this course uncovers the main analytical approaches to democratization and autocratization, such as the institutional, international, socioeconomic, cultural and actor-centered approaches as well as the conceptual and theoretical debates that surround these approaches.
Here is the course outline:
1. Class information and introduction
Feb 2 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
An overview of the course description, schedule and requirements Introductory Lecture: Why is comparison needed in democratization studies? |
2. The electoral and liberal democracy, democratic consolidation
Feb 9 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
Students will understand the main characteristics of the concepts of electoral and liberal democracy, electoral and closed autocracy as well as democratic consolidation. |
3. Transitions to Democracy: Preconditions / Elite choices
Feb 16 12am .. 2:45am, 3.27
Students will develop an understanding of the preconditions for building a democracy, such as the significance of ‘statehood’ as well as elite choices, and discuss whether and how democracies can be challenged in the absence of an established state territory. |
4. Transitions to Democracy: International Factors
Feb 20 9am .. 11:45am, 3.27
IMPORTANT: The class of 23 February is re-scheduled to 20 February, 9am. In this class, students will learn whether and how having a linkage with Western democratic powers have an influence in transitions to democracy. |
5. Transitions to Democracy: Modernization theory / Oil-Curse theory
Mar 2 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
Students will develop an understanding of the relationship between transitions to democracy and economic development (i.e. modernization theory) as well as the role of having oil. |
6. Why Transitions Fail
Mar 9 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
The students will explore cases of failed transitions in the light of theories we have so far learnt. i.e. Arab Spring, Prague Spring |
7. Challenges of Democratic Consolidation
Mar 16 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
The class will start with a discussion on the movie, “Vlny” and then move to the topic of unconsolidated democracies: Why do some democracies fail to consolidate and remain persistently weak, prone to a breakdown, while some others don’t? |
8. How Democracies Die
Mar 23 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
The students will develop an understanding of the concept of autocratization and democratic backsliding, a phenomenon observed in the 21st century. |
9. The Rise of Populism: A Threat or Corrective to Democracy?
Apr 13 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
Students will develop an understanding of the concept of populism; its rise and expansion often associated with democratic backsliding. They will learn how populism has arisen as a response to the structural crisis of democracy, and whether it can be a threat or a corrective to democracy. |
10. Mid-Term Exam
Apr 20 11:30am .. 12:30pm, 3.27
During this class session, students will write a midterm exam. The exam will consist of short-answer questions based on course readings and class lectures. It will last one hour, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will be a closed-book exam. Students are expected to provide concise, to-the-point answers to 7–8 questions, demonstrating their knowledge of the readings and lectures. The responses should not exceed three sentences per question. |
11. Autocratization and the Global (Dis)order
Apr 27 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
The students will develop an understanding of how to assess the resilience of existing autocracies and democracies in a changing global (dis)order. |
12. Polarization and Autocratization
May 4 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
students will develop an understanding of how pernicious levels of polarization often go hand in hand with the erosion of democracy. |
13. Resistance Strategies during Autocratization
May 11 11:15am .. 2pm, 3.27
The students will learn who the resistance actors are and what strategies they develop to counter autocratization. |
14. Final Exam
May 18 11:30am .. 1pm, 3.27
During this class session, students will write a final exam. The exam will consist of 4-5 questions based on the interpretation of a short case-study text. It will last one and half hour, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no limitation on word length, but the students are expected to provide to-the-point answers to these questions, demonstrating their knowledge of the readings and lectures. They will need to cite the course readings in response to the questions and hence are allowed to bring their hand-written notes (including bibliographic information) on the readings to the exam. No printouts are allowed. |