DAFF 25A58 - Crisis of democracy in comparison : theory and concrete cases

This course offers an introduction to the theory and cases of democracy in crisis, structured across three thematic units. The first unit introduces foundational concepts, exploring definitions of democracy and its crises, as well as theoretical frameworks addressing democracy's vulnerabilities. The second unit focuses on analytical tools and typologies, examining institutional approaches to democracy's collapse, democracy indexes, and comparative frameworks. Finally, the third unit delves into recent and historical case studies of democratic erosion across various regions, fostering a nuanced understanding of global trends. The course combines professor-led lectures, student-driven seminars, and debates, emphasizing critical analysis and active participation. Transversally, the course addresses qualitative and quantitative comparative methodological issues related to democracy.
Christian JECOV SCHALLENMULLER,Daniela COSTANZO
Séminaire
English
None
Spring 2024-2025
- 1 group presentation with a topic chosen or approved by the professor (40%) - 1 final paper (50%) - Student engagement during the semester (participation in class discussions during and outside of class, ability to ask questions, and class citizenship etc.) (10%)
Merkel, W. Is There a Crisis of Democracy? Can We Answer The Question? In: Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association. Berlin, 2013.
Fung, Archon, Moss, David & Westad, Odd Arne (orgs.). When Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, from Ancient Athens to the Present Day. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024.
Fraser, Nancy. Cannibal Capitalism: How Our System Is Devouring Democracy, Care, and the Planet and What We Can Do about It, London: Verso, 2022.
Levistky, S. Ziblatt, D. Tyranny of the Minority: why American democracy reached the breaking point. Penguin Random House, 2023.
Adam Przeworski, Crisis of Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019
Bermeo, N. On Democratic Backsliding. Journal of Democracy, v. 27, n. 1, 2016.
Castells, M. Rupture: the crisis of liberal democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2018.
Cohen, J.; Fung, A. Democracy and the Digital Public Sphere. Em: BERNHOLZ, L.; LANDEMORE, H.; REICH, R. (Eds.). Digital technology and democratic theory. Chicago ; London: University of Chicago Press, 2020. p. 23–61.
Dabène, O (ed.). Latin America's Pendular Politics: Electoral Cycles and Alternations. Cham, Palgrave Macmillan (Studies of the Americas), 2023.
Diamond, L. Facing Up to the Democratic Recession, Journal of Democracy, vol. 26, issue 1, 2015.
Diamond, L. Thinking about hybrid regimes. Journal of Democracy, Baltimore, Volume 13, Number 2, April, p. 21-35, 2002.
Ercan, A. ; Gagnon, J. The Crisis of Democracy: Which Crisis? Which Democracy? Democratic Theory, v.1, n.2, 2014.
FREEDOM HOUSE. Freedom in the World 2024: Methodology Questions. Avaiable on: https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/FIW_2024%20MethodologyPDF.pdf.
Fung, Archon, Moss, David & Westad, Odd Arne (orgs.). When Democracy Breaks: Studies in Democratic Erosion and Collapse, from Ancient Athens to the Present Day. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024.
Gauchet, M. Le nœud démocratique. Aux origines de la crise néolibérale. Paris : Gallimard, 2024.
Gerbaudo, P. Digital Parties: political organisation and online democracy. London: Pluto Press, 2018.
Gershberg, Z.; Illing, S. The paradox of democracy: free speech, open media, and perilous persuasion. University of Chicago Press, 2022.
Gombata, M; Cameron, M. Endogenous hybridity: regime change in Venezuela (1998–2020). Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revue Canadienne Des Études Latino-Américaines et Caraïbes, 47(1), 140–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/08263663.
Jafferlot C. Modi's India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy. Princeton University Press. 2019
Mair, P. Ruling the Void: The Hollowing of Western Democracy. London: Verso, 2013.
Mounk, Y. The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2018
Levitsky, S.; Ziblatt, D. How Democracies Die. New York: Crown, 2018.
Nobre, M. Limits of Democracy: From the June 2013 Uprisings in Brazil to the Bolsonaro Government. London: Springer Nature, 2022.