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SoSe 13: Democracy Promotion and Democratization in the South Caucasus

Nelli Babayan

Comments

With democracy promotion being on foreign policy agenda of many international actors, democratization seems to have ceased being a domestic issue par excellence. While numerous countries have pledged their adherence to democracy, established democracies and international organizations have covered the whole planet with their democracy promotion programs. This course provides a critical overview of academic and policy approaches to democracy promotion and democratization, viewing the two phenomena from International Relations and Comparative Politics perspectives. The first part of the course explores the concepts of democracy, democratization, and democracy promotion by analyzing the motives, rationales and general strategies of the main democracy promoters (the EU and the US). The second part of the course examines democratization patterns and relevant political developments in the South Caucasus countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) and discusses specific democracy promotion strategies. The South Caucasus constitutes a perfect laboratory for democracy promotion studies, enabling us to examine how and why countries ridden with problems such as regional conflicts and authoritarian legacies exhibit rhetorical willingness to abide by democratic rules promoted by international actors. Objectives: This course examines democratization and democracy promotion efforts around the world and in the South Caucasus in particular, focusing on actors, motives, and methods. Besides familiarizing students with academic approaches to democratization and democracy promotion, the course analyzes various policy approaches in order to better understand the challenges faced and strategies chosen by democracy promoters. The course also seeks to familiarize students with the political developments and democratization patterns of the South Caucasus countries. Learning outcomes: Upon completing the course, the students should: 1. be familiar with the most important currents of thought on analyzing democracy, democratization, and democracy promotion; 2. be able to apply analytical frameworks to selected cases; 3. be able to understand various justifications for democracy promotion, the challenges facing democracy promoters, and the difficulties of evaluating the impact of democracy promotion; 4. have substantial knowledge of the South Caucasus countries and be able to evaluate their political developments and regime trajectories; 5. possess the skills necessary for conducting independent policy analysis. close

14 Class schedule

Regular appointments

Tue, 10:00 - 12:00 14 Class schedule

Tue, 2013-04-09 10:00 - 12:00

Lecturers:
Dr. Nelli Babayan