CDSn4004 Democratization and De-Democratization

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Věra Stojarová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Nevio Moreschi (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
Without prerequisites.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The subject is focused on the theory of democratization. Its primary objective is to show the basic theories of democratization, including current phenomenon of so-called de-democratization. In view of this intention, the subject focuses on classical theory of revolutions, on debates on assumptions and reasons of the collapse of non-democracies, the problems of transition to democracy and, finally, the range of models of outputs from these processes (consolidation of democracy, semi-democratization or hybridization), including the reconfigurations of non-democratic regimes. The subject is based, inter alia, on the works of D. Berg-Schlosser, V. Bunce, L. Diamond, J. Grugel, Ch. Haerpfer, S. P. Huntington, J. J. Linz, A. Schedler, J. Teorell, Ch. Welzel and many others.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will be able to: - understanding the issues related to the phenomena of democratization; - distinguish between types of outputs from transitions of non-democratic regimes; - apply transitions theory to specific examples; - assess the situation of a particular political regime in the relation to the stage of its democratization or de-democratization.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction 2. Modern non-democratic regimes 3. How to democratise? Classical paradigms 4. Consolidated democracy contr hybrid regimes 5. HR and democracy promotion. Colour revolutions, Arab Spring 6. Current great conflict 7. Mid-term test 8. Weimar 9. Balkans 10. Balkans 11. Myanmar 12. CEE
Literature
    recommended literature
  • TEORELL, Jan. Determinants of democratization : explaining regime change in the world, 1972-2006. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010, xi, 208. ISBN 9780521199063. info
  • HUNTINGTON, Samuel P. The third wave : democratization in the late twentieth century. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991, xvii, 366. ISBN 9780806125169. info
    not specified
  • HAERPFER, Christian W. Democratization. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009, xxviii, 42. ISBN 9780199233021. URL info
  • LINZ, Juan J. Totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000, vii, 343. ISBN 1555878903. info
  • CHEHABI, H. E. and Juan J. LINZ. Sultanistic regimes. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998, x, 284 s. ISBN 0-8018-5693-0-. info
  • LINZ, Juan J. and Alfred C. STEPAN. Problems of democratic transition and consolidation : southern Europe, South America, and post-communist Europe. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, xx, 479. ISBN 0801851580. URL info
  • Democracy in developing countries. Edited by Larry Jay Diamond - Juan J. Linz - Seymour Martin Lipset. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner publishers, 1989, xxix, 515. ISBN 1555870430. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminar paper, final written exam.
Assessment methods
Requests (1) Written mid-term test (30 minutes, 3 open questions by 5 points, covering 1st half of the module, it means obligatory literature + lecturer´s PP presentations); (2) Paper: critical review of the article published in the journals databases Web of Science or Scopus during the era 2021-2024 and working with theories and concepts of non-democratic regimes, democratization, or de-democratization. It is necessary to consult the choice of the article with the lecturer (prof Holzer) by email, please to add pdf version of the article or link to the article. References according to the Chicago A-D. system https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html. Aim of seminary paper: describe the content of the text and (paradigmatic, theoretical, methodological, area) approach of the author/s and put reviewed text into general frame of the studies of (de)democratization. Formal aspects: 3500-4500 words, including notices and list of sources. Deadline: Tuesday 16th May 2024 (3) Presentation: prepare a presentation on selected topic and lead further discussion: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18WPqisEJhYhm1a3G6rAGrorPonUZCxQvoba9-Z7spCc/edit?usp=sharing (4) Oral exam (at the end of the semester, covering 2nd half of the module)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/CDSn4004