Course: Non-democratic regimes and the transition to democracy

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Course title Non-democratic regimes and the transition to democracy
Course code KPO/NRPD
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study 2
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Fiala Vlastimil, doc. PhDr. CSc.
  • Filipec Ondřej, Mgr. et Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction to non-democratic systems 2. The theory of non-democratic systems 3. Totalitarianism 4. Authoritarianism 5. Typology of non-democratic political systems 6. Party types of non-democratic political systems 7. Military types of non-democratic political systems 8. Personal types of undemocratic political systems 9. Theory of Transition to Democracy 10. Political actors and transition models 11. The theory of democratization waves 12. The theory of synchronization of democratization waves 13. Stages of transition (liberalization, phase democratization, democratic consolidation) 14. Problems of unfinished democratization (the theory of hybrid regimes and the gray zone)

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training)
Learning outcomes
The aim subject is to acquaint students with the theory of non-democratic regimes and their transition to democracy. This is a significant theoretical course that will be suitably complemented by examples from the practice of East European, African and Latin American countries.
The student will be able to understand the theory of undemocratic systems and transition to democracy and apply them to specific political systems
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of political terms from the theory of political systems

Assessment methods and criteria
Student performance

written work, test
Recommended literature
  • Dvořáková, V., Kunc, J. (1994). O přechodech k demokracii.. Praha: SLON.
  • Balík, S., Kubát, M. (2004). Teorie a praxe totalitních a autoritativních režimů. Dokořán, Praha.
  • Brooker, P. (2000). Non-Democratic Regimes. Theory, Government and Politics. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, London: MacMillan Press Ltd.
  • Holzer, J., Balík, S. (2007). Postkomunistické nedemokratické režimy.. Brno: CDK.
  • Linz, J. J., Stepan, A. (1996). Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. Southern Europe, South America, and Post-Communist Europe. Baltimore, London: The John Hopkins University Press.
  • Linz, J. (2000). Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes. Boulder, London: Lynne Rienner Publisher.
  • Przeworski, A. (1991). Democracy and the Market.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • riedrich, Carl J.: Brzezinski, Zbigniew, K. (1965). Totalitarian Dictatorship and Autocracy. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
  • Whitehead, L. (2002). Democratization: Theory and Experience. Oxford: Oxford University Press.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): European Studies Focusing on European Law (2017) Category: Social sciences 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter