Democracy, Institutions, and Citizenship (POL147)

This course explores democracy and comparative institutions across a range of policy arenas. We look at how the interplay of the democratic state and the practice of citizenship shapes outcomes related to democratic participation, political behavior, and accountable governance. We study the role of civil society in outcomes pertaining to political development. We also investigate how the bureaucracy collaborates, and at times clashes, with elected representatives with significant implications for industrial policy, welfare and redistribution and social policy, especially in developing democracies. Finally, we discuss the resilience of democracy in the 21st century.

• Explain determinants of democratic political participation, political behavior and accountable government.
• Describe the role of civil society in outcomes pertaining to political development.
• Model strategies bureaucrats use to pursue their interests in relation to elected representatives.
• Compare institutional impact on economic outcomes in wealthy as well as development economies.