POL 305: Democracy and Democratization in the Contemporary World

Goal: Students will the methods of political thought and comparative politics to examine the core concepts of democracy, the spread of democracy in the contemporary world and key differences between presidential, parliamentary, and semi-presidential systems.
Content: Students will examine the fundamental attributes of democratic regimes and the rise of democracy after World War II. A regime type that at one time was relatively rare has come to be seen as the norm, such that even autocratic regimes now make gestures of appearing to be democratic. Students will also examine the widely varied forms of contemporary democratic regimes.
Prerequisite(s): Satisfactory completion of College writing proficiency requirement or permission of instructor.
Credit: 3
Degree Level: Undergraduate