| Bemerkung |
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF SEMINAR
Democracy, autocracy and regime change are not only crucial phenomena in any political sys-tem but also core concepts of political science. Building knowledge about the main concepts, theories and empirics of political regimes is the main aim of this seminar. This seminar comprises four thematic blocks, which address different facets of the analysis of political regimes. These blocks build on readings on theory and concepts, while empirical evidence and illustrative cases help to contextualize and apply these. First, we address the question how to define political regimes. Students learn how to distinguish the variety of democratic and autocratic regimes. In this part, we also discuss the universality of democracy. Third, political regimes change over time. Students learn how to observe and assess regime change (democratization versus autocratization) and stagnation. In order to do so, students learn how to interpret cur-rent indices that aim at measuring the quality of political regimes. The forth block focuses on explaining regime change with particular attention to social protests and international democ-racy promotion. Fifth, we address the question of social and economic consequences of different regimes and regime change. Moreover, students learn about findings on the relationship between political regime types and their socioeconomic outcomes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students get to know core concepts of democracy, autocracy and regime change and related debates, in particular on contestation of democracy and recent autocratization trends. They learn how to apply these concepts in empirical research. With regard to soft skills, students are invited to improve their skills in sound argumentation, presentation and scientific writing.
METHODES
This seminar offers a mix of methods to make it interactive and engaging. Input by the lecturer, presentation of students, debates, simulation games, working groups and social media provide a variety of methods that allow students to participate and interact according to their individual needs. To make the seminar as interesting (and fun) as possible, it is important that students prepare readings as well as other homework in advance. |
