GOVT-338 Authoritarian Challenges to U.S. Democracy in the Twenty-First Century (3)

This course explores current tensions between liberal democracy and authoritarianism in the United States. Students read current scholarship to understand why many scholars see this as a crucial moment. They examine how the U.S. Constitution has developed over time to support some of the central qualities of a liberal democracy and consider whether the Constitution may contain vulnerabilities that offer an opening for would-be authoritarians. The class also discusses the role that norms–unwritten, informal rules–may play in supporting liberal democracy. Students consider how scholars identify authoritarian warning signs and what role members of Congress, party insiders, judges, executive branch officials, and voters can play in determining whether would-be authoritarians succeed. Usually Offered: fall.