Spring 2021  |  POL 3409 Section 001: Introduction to Authoritarian Politics (65515)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
Completely Online
Class Attributes:
Online Course
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/19/2021 - 05/03/2021
Mon, Wed 02:30PM - 03:45PM
Off Campus
UMN REMOTE
Enrollment Status:
Open (28 of 30 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
For much of history, states were largely organized along dictatorial principles. There were the days of emperors and empresses, of kings and queens, of rulers who ruled not because they were elected by their subjects, but because they saw it as their right to reign and were shrewd enough to maintain their position in power. While it is true that monarchies have virtually disappeared from the modern political landscape, the same cannot be said about dictatorships. The purpose of this class is to examine this regime type by introducing students to the current literature on dictatorships. The core questions that will be addressed in the class are as follows: Are dictatorships qualitatively different from democracies or do regimes instead lie somewhere on a democracy-dictatorship continuum? How do dictators survive in power? In the absence of free and fair elections, how does the transfer of power occur in this political setting? In asking these questions, the goal is to go beyond the often simplistic descriptions of dictators as the all-powerful and omnipotent tyrant, the one who does as he pleases without having to fear any repercussions for his actions. Instead, we will learn that the dictator is only one among may other political elites that make up the regime and to survive, much less thrive, he must traverse the terrain of power politics with the utmost care.
Class Notes:
This course is completely online in a synchronous format. The course will meet online at the scheduled times. http://classinfo.umn.edu/?jwoldens+POL3409+Spring2021
Class Description:
Student may contact the instructor or department for information.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/65515/1213

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