Political Science 137C tel. This course offers a comparative study of the wave of democratization that has swept much of Latin America, Southern Europe, East Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during the past two decades. The course will analyze the theoretical literatures on regime change and compare the experiences of countries emerging from bureaucratic authoritarianism, military rule, personalistic dictatorships, and state socialism. This is an advanced course. There are no formal prerequisites, but the course is recommended only for students who possess some background and a strong interest in comparative politics.
Requirements consist of a midterm and a final exam.
TAs are given considerable latitude, however, to adjust grades in accordance with attendance and participation in lectures and discussion sections. During the course of the semester, students will have the opportunity to participate in one of the several debates that we will carry out on controversial topics investigated in the course. Effective participation in the student debates will enhance the final grade. Much of the material for the course is contained in the course reader, which is available for purchase at Odin Readers. Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner, eds.