Democratic Development

An open online course on how democracies emerge, succeed, and fail

Why This Course?

How to constrain power hold it accountable protect individual rights

Why Do People Risk Everything For Democracy?

Is Democracy a Universal Value?

The Costs of Unaccountable Power

When, why and how do democracies emerge to constrain the power of One Man & One Party? How do the people become sovereign?

What Determines the Fate of Democracy?

Why do some democracies succeed and others fail?

How do Democracies Manage Serious Challenges?

Religious Differences

Poverty

Poverty

Inequality

The Crimes of the Past

Lack of Trust

Course Themes and Schedule

Week 1 What is Democracy? Regime Types The Third Wave of Democratization Legitimacy Democratic Consolidation

Week 2

Week 3

Political Culture Empirical Measures of How People View Democracy: Attitudes & Values Economic Development Civil Society

Week 4

Week 5

Democratic Transitions Historical Experiences, Decolonization Contemporary (Third Wave) Transitions Constitutional Designs Majoritarian vs. Consensual Parliamentary vs. Presidential Parties & Party Systems

Week 6

Week 7

Electoral Systems Choosing between different designs Ethnic Conflict Threats to democracy Managing ethnic conflict with institutional designs

Week 8

Week 9

Horizontal Accountability & The Rule of Law Controlling Corruption Why & How Democracies Break Down International Factors Democracy Promotion The Future of Democracy

Week 10

How the Course Will Work

Requirements
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Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours of lectures per week Reading is optional but strongly encouraged Online discussion is strongly encouraged

Take the Initiative

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Tell your friends and colleagues about the course Start a discussion group Tell us what you think. Use the forums!

Receive a Certificate
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Watch 80 percent of lectures and pass quizzes Pass the online final exam at the end of the class

Be Ambitious: Seek a Certificate of Distinction

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Complete an additional section of the online final exam covering the optional reading material

Participate in the Community

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Take the exam and become a peer grader Join an online discussion forum Offer your comments and views about course issues and current events Start or join a local discussion group in your school or neighborhood

Engage the Course Leaders

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Join the weekly discussion forums with the instructor and special guests Give us your feedback, suggestions, and questions