Based on key scholarly texts from the 1970s to 2021, this seminar will engage with different conceptualizations of authoritarianism, recent empirical research, and the methodological challenges involved in the comparative study of authoritarian systems. Particular attention will be paid to a) the political mechanisms behind authoritarian (in)stability; b) the societal dynamics in authoritarian systems; 3) the link between nationalism, conflict and authoritarianism; and 4) the international context and diffusion of authoritarian norms. By the end of the seminar, students will be aware of similarities and differences between authoritarian systems and societies, including their institutional make-up and strategies of preservation and erosion. Students will develop a critical understanding of the challenges involved in the empirical study of authoritarianism and be able to identify open questions and gaps in the research on authoritarianism. close