Democracy and Its Alternatives

Overview Course No. 8038

Delve into the definitions, duties, debates, and difficulties of democracy, exploring how democratic governments function around the world and throughout history. Under the guidance of political scientist Ethan Hollander, this course intertwines political science, history, and current affairs, offering you a comprehensive intellectual journey.

Course Content

1. Is Democracy Built to Last?

• Duration: 22 min

• Description: Examine the state of democracy today, addressing challenges like populism and polarization.

2. Politics and Personal Sacrifice

• Duration: 22 min

• Description: Explore how competing interests come to decisions and the sacrifice of personal freedoms for the collective good.

3. Government and the Invention of Law

• Duration: 21 min

• Description: Understand the origins of law and how governments enforce these laws, including differing constitutions worldwide.

4. The Rise of the Modern State

• Duration: 20 min

• Description: Trace the evolution of the modern state from feudalism to central authority, focusing on historical shifts.

5. States, Nations, and Nationalism

• Duration: 21 min

• Description: Investigate nationalism and ethnic conflict, comparing various global case studies.

6. Why Care about Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau?

• Duration: 23 min

• Description: Dive into classical political theory and the social contract as articulated by key philosophers.

7. Who Gets to Vote?

• Duration: 22 min

• Description: Discuss the fundamental characteristics of democracy and examine voting systems.

8. Voters and the Dangers of Too Much Democracy

• Duration: 22 min

• Description: Analyze flaws in democracy, including voter apathy and mob rule, and explore potential solutions.

9. Should Presidents or Parliaments Lead?

• Duration: 23 min

• Description: Compare presidential and parliamentary systems, assessing their powers and stability.

10. The Vote Counter Decides Everything

• Duration: 23 min

• Description: Examine different voting systems and how votes are tabulated to determine outcomes.

11. Do Political Parties Help or Hurt?

• Duration: 24 min

• Description: Analyze the role of political parties in democracies and compare multi-party with two-party systems.

12. The Problems with Federalism

• Duration: 26 min

• Description: Explore the structure of federal governance and the challenges it faces globally.

13. Are Courts and Constitutions Democratic?

• Duration: 21 min

• Description: Investigate the relationship between constitutions, courts, and democracy across different nations.

14. The Controversial Politics of Central Banks

• Duration: 22 min

• Description: Explore the functions and conflicts involving central banks in modern economies.

15. Who Backs Authoritarians?

• Duration: 24 min

• Description: Understand the appeal of authoritarian regimes and the context in which they rise.

16. The Dictator’s Playbook

• Duration: 20 min

• Description: Learn the origins of dictatorships and how they sustain power through various methods.

17. When States Fail, What Comes Next?

• Duration: 22 min

• Description: Discuss the concept of state failure and its implications for global stability.

18. Partition, Peacekeeping, and Human Crisis

• Duration: 24 min

• Description: Delve into humanitarian interventions and the complexities involved in preventing crises.

19. What Really Causes Wealth and Poverty?

• Duration: 23 min

• Description: Analyze key factors affecting economic disparities between nations.

20. The Global Fault Lines of Trade

• Duration: 23 min

• Description: Understand the ongoing debates surrounding free trade and protectionism through historical examples.

21. Is the European Union a Success or Failure?

• Duration: 25 min

• Description: Evaluate the structure and performance of the European Union amidst various crises.

22. When the Balance of Power Breaks Down

• Duration: 25 min

• Description: Investigate how political entities maintain promises and manage risk.

23. Why It’s So Hard to Work Together

• Duration: 24 min

• Description: Explore collective action problems in politics and factors enabling cooperation.

24. Gridlock and Democracy

• Duration: 26 min

• Description: Review modern democracy’s evolution and assess its strengths and weaknesses on the global stage.