OADI 2370 - Populism and the Crisis of Democracy

***UPDATED for 2026/27***

Over the past years, so-called “populists” have fundamentally transformed the politics of many democracies, from France to the United States, from Hungary to Argentina, and from Brazil to India. Their remarkable success, combined with their hostility to many longstanding political norms and institutions, have raised serious concerns about the future of the democratic political system. Do populists pose a serious threat to democracy—and, if so, what can be done to stop them?

The readings for this course will include recent articles in political science, sociology and economics. Additionally, it will feature prerecorded conversations with leading scholars, journalists and activists, including Anne Applebaum, Sheri Berman, Francis Fukuyama, Arlie Hochchild, Dani Rodrik and Daniel Ziblatt..

Learning Outcomes and Professional Skills

• Understand the nature of populism.
• Assess the impact that populism has had on major democracies around the world.
• Analyze the causes of the populist rise
• Develop a set of ideas about what kinds of public policies help to contain populism.

Professional Skills

The course helps students develop key skills necessary to understand political concepts and predict political change; to present information to decision makers in a clear and lucid manner; and to develop policy suggestions to address major contemporary challenges.

None

There will be feedback on major assignments throughout the course as well as on request in office hours.

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester