I currently teach two modules at the University of East Anglia:

States, Citizens and Institutions (second year, undergraduate)

Political systems around the world are facing profound shocks, challenges, and transformations. At the end of the twentieth century liberal democracy was thought to be ‘the end of history’ in the search for a system. Democracy is now thought to be retreat in many established democracies or states which democratised or partly democratised after the cold war such as Russia and Poland. Established democracies in Europe and North America have seen the rise of populism, as marked by the election of Donald Trump in the USA, the Brexit referendum in the UK or support for Marine Le Pen in France. Yet, at the same time, autocratic regimes in the Middle East and North Africa have come under pressure, with movements such as the Arab Spring signalling aspirations amongst many people for a more democratic system of governance.

This module provides you with a critical understanding of how political systems vary around the world and the pressures facing them. It begins by focusing on the drivers of democratisation. It then proceeds to consider how political institutions such as the executive, legislature and the degree of decentralisation vary – and the effects that this has. Finally, we consider new trends in citizen’s voting behaviour at the ballot box and pressure groups campaigning for change. You will gain a critical awareness of current debates in comparative politics and develop key skills including critical evaluation, analytical investigation, written presentation, and oral communication.

Democracy Around the Globe: Futures of Resilience or Backsliding? (postgraduate)

The collapse of the Berlin Wall in the 1990s was seen as emblematic of the triumph of liberal democracy against all other systems of governance.  Decades later many commentators have warned that we have entered an era of democratic backsliding.  Autocrats are using methods such as internet shutdowns, electoral violence, fake news, human rights violations, the bribery of civil servants and zombie NGOs to maintain their power.    Meanwhile, the so-called ‘established democracies’ have seen populist forces claim that elections are rigged, greater media concentration, foreign meddling in elections, dark money in campaign finance and many other pressures.   Concerns are so serious that the US President launched a ‘Summit for Democracy’ calling for governments around the world to make commitment to restore and strengthen democracy.

What explains these new patterns and trajectories?  Are they alarmist?  Are there also many cases of democratic renewal and strengthening?  What are the policy solutions? What is the future of democracy? 

To enable students to answer these questions, Part 1 of the course provides an overview of the range of ways in which democracy has been conceptualised.  Part 2 enables students to explore the way that democratic quality has been measured.  Part 3 considers the key theories for why democratisation and democratic deconsolidation might occur.  Part 4 then zooms in on key dimensions and democratic institutions and practices such as the conduct of elections, constitutional protections, deliberation and free speech; and, democratic cultures.  The focus of the course will be global.  Students will therefore have the opportunity to explore global, regional but also country-level trends – focussing in the parts of the world and of democracy that interests them the most.