The world is democratizing.  Over the past two decades, more
countries have changed from authoritarian regimes to democracies than at any
other time in history.  This democratic wave has swept across most of the
globe: democratic transitions have occurred in Europe, Africa, Latin
America, South America, and Asia.  This course provides students the
opportunity to explore the politics, economics, and social effects of these
modern transitions to democracy.
		This course allows students to investigate the causes and
consequences of democratic transitions.  Students will read and discuss
current theories regarding democratic transitions. These theories include
explanations such as culture, political institutions, economic institutions,
wealth, education, religion, the relationship between the military and the
people, and the nature of civil society.  Students will apply these theories
to a number of cases where such transitions have succeeded and failed, in an
effort to analyze and evaluate the state of our understanding about
democracy and its genesis.
		The course's general orientation is discussion -- it is rare
that a "straight lecture"ever takes place.  These discussions are supported
by homework involving reading and writing, group and individual in-class
assignments, and quizzes.  The course is designed so that the mid term and
the final exams together account for a minority of the student's final
grade.