The students will be introduced to the course and its requirements. There will be an exchange of expectations about the course between the students and the lecturer, followed by an introductory lecture on “What is Authoritarianism?”

The students will be introduced to the differences and similarities between illiberal democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes. They will learn how each category relates to a particular authoritarian practice.

The students will understand the differences among types of contemporary authoritarian regimes, i.e. military regime, personalistic regime, theocracy, one-party regime.

The session will explain the strategy of legitimation, and how and why it is vital for authoritarian regime survival.

The session will explain the authoritarian strategy of co-optation, how and why it is vital for authoritarian regime survival. IMPORTANT: Submission of Response Paper I

The session will explain the authoritarian strategy of repression, how and why it is vital for authoritarian regime survival.

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 the questions, demonstrating their knowledge of the readings and lectures. The responses should not exceed three sentences per question. Students are NOT allowed to leave the classroom during this one hour.

Why hold elections, if you don't want to lose? The students will understand the function of elections under authoritarianism, how dictators benefit from holding elections.

Why does a dictator need a ruling party? The students will understand the function of a political party under authoritarianism, how dictators benefit from controlling parties.

Why use courts, if the ruler can simply repress? The students will understand the function of a judiciary and the courts under authoritarianism. They will be introduced to the concept of ‘show trials.’

The session examines how contemporary authoritarian regimes use information manipulation as a tool of domestic control and international influence. It also explores how digital technologies have transformed traditional propaganda and censorship and considers the use of disinformation to shape perceptions, undermine trust, and influence political processes at home and abroad.

This session examines how the international environment affects the survival of authoritarian regimes. Focusing on the United States and Russia, it explores how the strategic interests of external powers can either constrain or bolster authoritarian rulers and asks when democracy promotion gives way to geopolitical and security considerations.

The students will learn about varieties of opposition actors and strategies used under authoritarian regimes.

The students will share a draft of their final paper with the instructor 2 days in advance and receive feedback during the consultations during class hours.