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Democracy, autocracy and regime change are key phenomena in comparative politics. As these concepts are central to understanding global political development, they also play a significant role in the sub-discipline of international relations. This seminar introduces students to theoretical and empirical approaches for analyzing different types of political regimes and their dynamics over time. Combining actor-centred and institutional perspectives, it explores how political leaders, societal actors, and institutional arrangements shape regime stability, transformation, and breakdown.
The course focuses on two overarching questions:
(1) How can we assess and compare different types of political regimes?
(2) What domestic and international factors explain why regimes democratize, autocratize, or remain stable?
Beyond exploring concepts of democracy and autocracy, students will analyze processes of regime change, with particular attention to democratic resilience and resistance to autocratization. A further focus lies on the consequences of regime type — including the socioeconomic and governance effects of democracy and autocracy — and the role of state capacity and fragility in these outcomes.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the seminar, students will have developed both conceptual and analytical skills that enable them to study and critically assess political regimes and their transformation. More specifically, they will:
- Understand core concepts and theories of democracy, autocracy, and regime transformation, as well as the main debates in the study of political regimes.
- Familiarize themselves with key seminar works and readings that have shaped the comparative study of political regimes.
- Apply and critically assess theories, concepts, and empirical tools to analyze political regimes, their transformations, and their effects in comparative and global perspective.
- Explore the use of emerging research tools, including applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in political science, such as text and data analysis related to democracy and autocracy.
- Develop soft skills in argumentation, presentation, and academic writing through active participation and seminar assignments.
Course Format and Methods
This seminar combines a variety of interactive methods to ensure both intellectual engagement and active participation. Students will experience different forms of learning that address conceptual understanding, analytical thinking, and practical application.
The course includes:
- Lecturer input providing conceptual overviews and framing for sessions.
- Student presentations introducing key readings and case studies to stimulate discussion.
- Structured debates on contested questions in the study of democracy, autocracy, and regime change.
- Simulation exercises and working groups designed to apply theories and concepts to empirical cases.
- Use of AI in research and learning to get acquainted with the opportunities and limits of AI.
To make the seminar meaningful and enjoyable, students shall complete all assigned readings and preparatory tasks before each session — none of the methods will work without this preparation. |
