Course Description
Though called "Democratization," this course provides an overview of the development of the state in general and the potential for democratic institutions in particular, while also noting the diverse developmental paths toward state-building which countries have pursued. While the course intends to provide a global perspective, it will focus a bit more on Europe than on other areas, if only because so many of the institutions and ideologies which European states developed had a trans-regional, even global impact. The course will have a comparative focus, not only among theories of political development but also among various national experiences. An understanding of this process is essential to understanding 20th- and 21st-century developments.
Course Credits: 3
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to compare the strengths and weaknesses of interpretations of political development, as well as compare the developmental paths of various countries to one another.
- Students will apply and deepen their critical thinking skills in reading and writing (to be demonstrated in the paper proposal and the final paper).
- Students will gain familiarity with major historiographical theories regarding the evolution of democratic institutions.