Comparative Democratic Development Part I: Conditions of Democracy

Conditions of Democracy is the first course in a two-part series intended as a broad survey of the political, social, cultural, economic, institutional, and international factors that foster and obstruct the development and consolidation of democracy. Each factor will be examined in historical and comparative perspective, with reference to a variety of different national experiences. An important aim of the course is to encourage each student to relate the historical development and contemporary situation of a particular country or region to the various theories about democratic development, and to evaluate those theories in light of the experience of a country, set of countries, or region.

• You will learn about the political, social, cultural, economic, institutional, and international factors that foster and obstruct the development and consolidation of democracy.

• There are no formal prerequisites for this course, although an interest in democracy, democratic structures and institutions, as well as democratic development is key.