PSC 212 - Democracy Under Siege

Course Units: 1

The 21st century has witnessed a troubling trend: the erosion of democracies and the rise of authoritarianism. In countries like Hungary, Turkey, Poland, and India, democratic institutions are undermined by populism, polarization, and disinformation. Meanwhile, autocracies like China, Iran, Malaysia, and Russia are consolidating power through repression, redistribution, and the control of civil society. This course examines the drivers of democratic backsliding, how authoritarian regimes entrench themselves, and
explores recent debates and strategies for reversing democratic decline.