PG 322 | Democracy Disrupted: Populism, Illiberalism, and Authoritarian Rule

This course examines the challenges to democracy, the sources of populism, and the nature and practices of illiberal politics. We will explore non-democratic and illiberal forms of rule, analyzing the evolution, endurance, and transformation of authoritarianism worldwide. The course considers ideological, institutional, and international influences, drawing from historical and contemporary cases. In addition to understanding authoritarianism, we will investigate how populism and illiberalism shape democratic governance, assessing their role in democratic erosion and resilience. Students will focus on their own regions of interest to broaden our comparative discussions.