Global authoritarianism and the struggle for democracy

The course is an in-depth course in the second cycle and can be studied as a single subject course. The course can be part of the following program: 1) Master's Program in Global Studies (S2GST)

Entry to the course requires 20 credits of completed second cycle courses in the field of global studies, social sciences or equivalent.

This course investigates how authoritarian regimes operate, cooperate, and how they may be challenged in the contemporary international system. Drawing on selected cases, it explores phenomena such as increasingly transnational political repression, a practice that involves the targeting and harassment of regime critics abroad. Focusing on local actors, the course further analyzes strategies and impacts of transnational activism.

The course will cover both theoretical and empirical aspects of global authoritarianism, drawing on examples and cases from different regions and contexts. It addresses the implications of these phenomena for democracy, human rights, and international relations. The course is relevant for anyone interested in understanding the proliferation of non-democratic governance and the challenges it poses to global orders.

After successful completion of the course students shall be able to:

Knowledge and understanding 

• Account for empirical trends in autocratization, democratic backsliding and democratization; 
• describe the ways in which globalization has changed the internal dynamics and operating logics of authoritarian regimes; 
• account for different theoretical approaches in the study of global authoritarianism and democracy; 

Skills and abilities 

• formulate a topic and a research question of relevance for debates on global authoritarianism and democracy;

Judgement and approach 

• critically assess the possibilities and limitations of the different approaches to the study of global authoritarianism.

The main forms of teaching on the course include lectures, seminars (including mandatory literature seminars), quizzes administered through the university e-learning platform, and student-led group work projects. Certain activities may be conducted digitally.

Language of instruction: English

The course will be examined through the following activities:

• 1 group work project with oral presentation and a written case study report (2 hp) 
• 3 mandatory literature seminars (1,5hp) 
• 1 written home exam (4hp) 

Any restrictions regarding the use of generative AI (genAI) applications are indicated on the course's Canvas page (or equivalent). Students are obliged to inform themselves about the applicable rules for written assignments, seminar tasks, and exams in the current course.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG); Pass (G) and Fail (U).

• Group work project with oral presentation and a written case study report is graded U/G (2 credits) 
• The three mandatory literature seminars are graded U/G (1,5hp) 
• Individual written assignment in the form of a home exam is graded U/G/VG (4 credits) 

In order to obtain the grade Pass (G) for the whole course, students need to receive Pass (G) on all of the required assignments.

In order to obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG), students need to receive the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the individual written assignment and Pass (G) on all other examined assignments.

The course coordinator is responsible for systematically and regularly collecting the students' views of the course, and for making sure that the results of the evaluations in different forms are taken into consideration when developing the course. The results and possible changes to the course will be shared with the students who participated in the evaluation and the next class to take the course