Photo: Vladislav Klapin via Unsplash
Course description
This course introduces students to the rich and multi-faceted debates about democracy promotion among supporters and critics alike, and the evolution of democracy promotion as a foreign-policy tool since the early twentieth century. We will analyze core concepts, ideas and challenges that have shaped the way we think about democracy promotion, democracy assistance and democracy defense, and apply them to diverse cases drawn from international history and contemporary affairs.
Course objectives
The objective of this course is to provide a solid understanding of the key ideas and practices in the realm of democracy promotion, ranging from the theoretical concepts such as the Democratic Peace Theory to practices such as election monitoring, media and civil society assistance and the promotion of the rule of law. The course will also analyze the main programs and agencies involved in democracy promotion and the different approaches embraced by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations. In addition, it seeks to advance students’ capacity to write clearly and express themselves coherently and apply theoretical knowledge to the subject at hand. This course may be particularly useful for students seeking to work for international organizations, civil society and the public sector.
August – November 2021
Download syllabus here
