POLI 2290 - C Topics: Authoritarianism & Populism

Abstract

1. Course Description What explains the global rise of populism? What is the historical relationship between authoritarianism and populism? Why are populist leaders viewed as threat for liberal democracy? Is populism the mirror of democracy? This course provides answers to these questions focusing on Comparative Politics -one of the main fields of Political Science- The course will be divided in three sections. A first section will review the most important definitions of populism (a very contested concept), the historical authoritarian origins of populism and the relationship between populism and democracy. In a second section, we will explore the political, economic and cultural determinants of populism and how to deal with populists in office. In a third section we will focus on a series of case studies with well-known experts on Populism in order to understand the cross-national emergence of populism in Africa, Europe, the United States and Latin America. Classes will consist of lectures dictated by the instructor. Active student participation is highly encouraged. 2. Course Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: ● The different definitions of Populism ● The relationship between Populism, Authoritarianism and Democracy ● The differences between Right-Wing and Left-Wing Populism ● How to deal with a populist in office