RES 295-01 - Special Topic:The New Authoritarians in Central Europe

4 credits (Fall)

The course will study the political vicissitudes of the former Communist countries after the transition of 1989, concentrating on the electoral triumphs of (mainly) right-wing authoritarian movements, and their ultimate defeats. Adopting a country by country approach, it will focus especially on Poland, as the biggest and politically most significant country in the group, and one where authoritarian rule has been – with the exception of Hungary – longest, and most impactful. It will conclude with a review of the driving forces of populist authoritarianism: nationalism, majoritarianism and anti-elitism, and on more general lessons on how this kind of rule can be effectively resisted.

Prerequisite: Second-year standing.
Instructor: Gebert