GOVT 40.26 Authoritarianism vs. Democracy in Europe
This course is designed to present an overview of the politics of Central & Eastern Europe from the early 20th century up to the present day. First, we will discuss the creation of independent states from large empires, and the impact of World Wars I and II. Next, we will examine the over forty years of communist rule, and its breakdown in 1989. In the last section of the course, we will discuss the difficult transition to democracy, accession to the European Union, and several topics to explore the quality of democracy in the region including dimensions of political competition and political participation. As we move throughout the course, we will maintain a comparative approach to understanding the varying political outcomes seen in the region.
Instructor
Aha