Professor David J. Samuels
Office: Social Sciences 1466
Email: dsamuels@polisci.umn.edu
Office Hours: T Th 11-12
Objectives: This course focuses on what many political scientists consider to be the most important transformation in global politics of the last 25 years: the move from authoritarian or totalitarian to democratic forms of government. In this course we will ask – and attempt to answer – a series of questions about this phenomenon:
- What exactly is a "democratic" government?
- Why have so many authoritarian systems around the world collapsed in the last 25 years?
- Why have these authoritarian systems nearly always "collapsed" into democracy, and not another form of authoritarianism?
- Given the transition to democracy, is democratic perpetuation ("consolidation") a given?
- How can countries move towards the "consolidation" of democratic rule?
- What should the role of the US (and its citizens) be in promoting democracy (especially if people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones…)
Requirements:
- Readings: All readings in this syllabus are required readings. I expect students to do all the readings listed on the syllabus, before the scheduled class. I will make time during lecture for questions and discussion about the readings - please come prepared!
- Grading: grades will be based as follows: Midterms: 20% each (there are two), Final: 30%, Term Paper: 30%. Grades will be based on University grade definitions, which establish the qualities of performance expected at different grade levels (see CLA Classroom Grading and Examination Procedures, p. 13). Note, for example, that the University defines a C grade as "achievement meeting the basic course requirements in every respect."
- Exams: There will be two midterms and a final exam, all of which will consist of a combination of short-answers and essay questions. Exams grades will be based on a demonstrated command of the material from lectures and readings.
- Paper: By the end of the 2nd week, each student must pick a country that has recently undergone a transition to democracy. Your paper will address either one of two questions: (1) "What factors pushed the move to democracy in [your country of choice]?" or (2) "What are the prospects for democratic consolidation in [your country of choice]?" This paper will be between 10-12 pages in length, and is due on May 4th. The paper will require independent research; I will hand out a more detailed set of assignment directions later on. You will conduct group discussions to compare and contrast your chosen cases.
- Policies for make-up exams, late assignments, and incompletes: Make-up exams will not be permitted unless the student notifies the professor before the regular exam is administered and later presents written documentation of the circumstances (e.g. note from University Health Service verifying illness). Only the legitimate circumstances mentioned in the policy on makeup examinations will be accepted, and only with written documentation. Legitimate circumstances include religious holidays, verifiable illness, serious family emergencies, subpoenas, jury duty, military service, and participation in group activities sponsored by the university. Incompletes will be granted only in the case of documented illness, and if the student and professor complete the CLA Agreement for Completion of Incomplete Work. Written assignments are due during the class period on the days they are due. Assignments turned in after the class period will be considered late. Late assignments will be marked down one full grade for every five days they are late.
- Texts: Students should purchase the course packet at Paradigm, which is in Dinkytown. All readings are also on reserve at Wilson Library. Students should purchase the following books at the bookstore:
- Robert Dahl, On Democracy. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999.
- Samuel Huntington, The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late 20th Century. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.
Course Schedule:
Jan 18: General Introduction
Jan 20: What is Democracy? Classical definitions.
Reading questions: how is democracy defined by different scholars? What do we mean by "democratic government?" Are we satisfied with minimalist definitions (that democracy is a means) or must we demand something more (i.e. that democracy is not only a means but an end in and of itself)? What is the range of acceptable conditions for a country to be deemed "democratic"? How do we measure how "democratic" a society is?
- Schmitter, Philippe, and Terry Karl. "What Democracy Is…and Is Not." Journal of Democracy 2(Summer 1991):75-88.
- Huntington, Samuel. 1989. "The Modest Meaning of Democracy." In Robert Pastor, Democracy in the Americas. New York: Holmes and Meier.
- Kenneth Bollen, "Political Democracy: Conceptual and Measurement Traps." In Alex Inkeles, ed., On Measuring Democracy. New Brunswick: Transaction Books, 1993.
Jan 25: What is Democracy? Institutional Variations.
- Dahl, On Democracy, chapters 8-11
Jan 27: Democracy, Shmemocracy: Why should we care?
You must have chosen a country for your project by this class meeting.
- Dahl, On Democracy, chs. 5-7
Feb 1: Trends in Democratic Development 1: The 1st and 2nd "Waves" of Democratization
Reading questions: what are the main causes of the emergence of the 1st and 2nd wave democracies? Are we likely to see those causes again in our own times?
- Dahl, On Democracy, chapter 2
- Huntington, The Third Wave, chapter 1
Feb 3: Trends in Democratic Development 2: The 3rd "Wave" of Democratization
Reading questions: what are the main causes of the emergence of the 3rd Wave democracies? How do these causes differ from the 1st and 2nd Wave democracies?
- Huntington, The Third Wave, chapter 2, pages 31-46, 85-108
- Adrian Karatnycky, "The 1998 Freedom House Survey: The Decline of Illiberal Democracy." Journal of Democracy 10(1):112-125.
Feb 8: Discussion of writing, research, and research paper
During this class I will discuss expectations for the writing assignment, and we will also discuss issues surrounding internet research. I highly advise you NOT to skip this class!! I am very picky about writing, as my grading will show!!
Feb 10: Are There Cultural Preconditions for Democracy?
Reading questions: are there cultural prerequisites for the emergence of democracy? If so, what can this insight tell us about the prospects for democracy around the world? What is meant by the concept of a 'civic culture'? How can this concept be measured and compared?
- Huntington, The Third Wave, chapter 2, pages 72-85
- Adam Przeworski, Sustainable Democracy, pp. 53-64
- Robert Putnam, "Bowling Alone: The Strange Disappearance of Civic America." Journal of Democracy 6(1), 1995.
Feb 15: Are There Institutional Preconditions for Democracy?
Reading questions: are their certain configurations of democratic institutions that are more or less susceptible to collapse, and others that are more likely to weather crises? What's so bad about presidential systems of government, especially given that ours has never collapsed?
- Adam Przeworski, Sustainable Democracy, pp. 19-33, 40-52
- Arend Lijphart, "Consitutional Choices for New Democracies." In Diamond and Plattner (eds.), The Global Resurgence of Democracy (2nd ed.), pp. 162-174.
- Juan Linz, "The Perils of Presidentialism." from Diamond and Plattner, 124-142.
Feb 17: Are There Socio-Economic Preconditions for Democracy?
Reading questions: what is the connection between economic well-being and democracy? Why would poorer countries be less likely to have democracy? What other socio-economic prerequisites for democracy might we imagine?
- Huntington, The Third Wave, chapter 2, pages 46-72
- Dahl, On Democracy, chapters 12-14
Feb 22: NO CLASS - Reading Day: study for midterm. I will hold extra office hours.
Feb 24: 1st Midterm - in class essay exam
Feb 29: Conceptualizing the Specifics of Democratic Transitions (1)
Reading questions: why would non-democratic rulers relinquish power? Do they go willingly or are they pushed? When does democracy become the "only game in town"?
- Huntington, The Third Wave, chapters 3-4
- Adam Przeworski, Democracy and the Market. Chapter 2.
March 2: Conceptualizing the Specifics of Democratic Transitions (2)
Reading questions: what specific factors drive non-democratic rulers out? Are the factors identified by Huntington and Przeworski the only relevant ones?
- G. O'Donnell & P. Schmitter, Transitions from Authoritarian Rule. Chapter three.
- Paul Drake, "The International Causes of Democratization, 1974-1990." In Drake and McCubbins, The Origins of Liberty. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
March 7: Re-Thinking Transitions
Reading questions: are the "Transitions to Democracy" really democratic?
- Frances Hagopian, "Democracy by Undemocratic Means? Elites, Political Pacts, and Regime Transition in Brazil." Comparative Political Studies 23(2):147-170 (1990).
- Brian Loveman, "When You Wish upon the Stars: Why the Generals (and Admirals) Say ‘Yes' to Latin American ‘Transitions' to Civilian Government." In Drake and McCubbins, The Origins of Liberty. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Mar 9: From Transition to Consolidation?
Reading questions: How can the transition affect the chances of democratic consolidation?
- Linz and Stepan, Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. Chapters 4-5
Mar 14: Issues in Democratic Consolidation (1)
Reading questions: can new democracies avoid a collapse back into authoritarianism? Can they "consolidate" democratic rule? What factors affect the possibility of democratic collapse? How would we know when a democracy has become "consolidated" or not? What are the "legacies" of authoritarian rule and how well do new democracies deal with them? How can new democracies put militaries under civilian authority? How can they address issues of past human rights violations? How can new democracies ensure the rule of law, free and fair elections, accountable government, and equal access to justice for all citizens?
Mar 16: NO CLASS - Reading Day. I will hold extra office hours.
March 21: Issues in Democratic Consolidation (2)
Reading questions: what problems particularly plague newer democracies relative to more well-established democracies? What can be done to alleviate these problems?
- Huntington, The Third Wave, chapter 5.
- Guillermo O'Donnell, "Delegative Democracy." Journal of Democracy 5:55-69 (1994).
- Scott Mainwaring. 1999. "Party Systems in the 3rd Wave." Journal of Democracy
March 23: 2nd Midterm - in class essay exam.
Spring Break March 27-31, NO CLASSES
April 4-6: Problems in Democratic Consolidation: The Case of South Africa
Reading qs: what problems does S. Africa face in terms of establishing democracy?
- Thomas Koelble and Andrew Reynolds, "Power-Sharing Democracy in the New South Africa." Politics and Society 24(3):221-237 (1996).
- Response to Koelble and Reynolds by Ian Shapiro and Courtney Jung.
- Anthony Marx, "Apartheid's End: South Africa's Transition from Racial Domination." Ethnic and Racial Studies 20(3):474-97 (1997).
- "Race, Law and Poverty in the New South Africa." The Economist 10/2/99.
- "South Africa in Black and White." The Economist 11/13/99.
- Rachel Swarns, "In Apartheid's Wake, A Word Still Divides." NYT, 10/3/99, p. B1.
- Rachel Swarns, "After Apartheid, White Anxiety." NYT
Apr 11-13: Problems in Democratic Consolidation: The Case of Chile
Reading qs: what particular problems that Chile faces in terms of establishing democracy?
- Lois Hecht Oppenheim, Politics in Chile: Democracy, Authoritarianism, and the Search for Development. 1993. Pages 205-237.
- Brian Loveman, "Antipolitics in Chile, 1973-94." In Loveman and Davies, (eds.), The Politics of Antipolitics: The Military in Latin America.
- Linz and Stepan, chapter 13.
- Arturo Valenzuela, "Judging a General: Pinochet's past and Chile's Future." Current History, March 1999," p 99-104.
- The Economist, "To Sue a Dictator." April 24 1999, pp. 26-27.
- Clifford Krauss, "Chilean Military Faces Reckoning for its Dark Past." NYT 10/3/99, p.1.
Apr 18-20: Problems in Democratic Consolidation: The Case of Russia
Reading qs: what particular problems does Russia face in terms of establishing democracy?
- Linz and Stepan, chapters 15, 19, and 21.
- M. McFaul, "The Perils of Protracted Transition." Journal of Democracy, 4/99, pp. 4-18.
- Debate on the "Transition" in Russia in the New York Times, March 27, 1999, pp. 17, 19.
Apr 25-27: Transition or…? The Problematic Case of Mexico
Reading questions: is Mexico a democracy? If not, is it at least on the road to democracy?
- Howard Handelman, Mexican Politics: The Dynamics of Change. Ch. 1
- Jonathan Fox, "The Difficult Transition from Clientelism to Citizenship: Lessons from Mexico." World Politics 46:151-84 (January, 1994).
- Miguel Centeno, Democracy Within Reason. chapter 1, pages 34-41, and ch.8
May 2: Prospects for the Future (1)
Reading questions: will the "Third Wave" democracies revert to authoritarianism? What might bring that about? Or is the age of authoritarianism finally really over? Will democracy spread even further?
- Huntington, The Third Wave, ch. 6
- Przeworski et al., "What Makes Democracies Endure?" Journal of Democracy 7(1):39-55 (1996).
- Samuel Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations." The National Interest.
May 4: Prospects for the Future (2)
Reading questions: have the "Third Wave" democracies "completed" the transition? What is left to do? Can we hope for "deepening" of democracy? What role should the U.S. and its citizens play in the promotion of democratic government around the world?
- Fareed Zakaria, "The Rise of Illiberal Democracy." Foreign Affairs 76(6): 22-43.
- J. Shattuck and J. B. Atwood, "Defending Democracy." Foreign Affairs 77(2): 167-170
- Augustus R. Norton," Rethinking U.S. Foreign Policy Toward the Muslim World." Current History 98, # 625, 1999.
2nd PAPER ARE DUE ON THE LAST DAY OF CLASS, THURSDAY MAY 4th
FINAL EXAM IS 4-6 P.M., TUESDAY MAY 9th
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