A Global Wave of Authoritarianism?
Week 1: Reading Questions
One of the overarching questions of the course is whether America is safe from
authoritarianism and, if not, where the greatest threat to our democracy lies. These first two
readings speak to this question, and also offer a chance for initial reflections as we kick off the
semester.
1.
Roberto Stefan Foa and Yascha Mounk have written a great deal in recent years about the
dangers that democracies could backslide into authoritarianism, and the global rise of
autocracy. In this article, what do they identify as the key causes of democratic decline? Do you
agree with their argument, assumptions and predictions for the future? Why or why not?
2. In contrast to the oft-repeated claim that the United States is “the world’s oldest democracy,”
Trevon Logan dates American democracy back to the 1960s when civil rights-era changes
enfranchised minority voters. He sees the United States as a young and fragile democracy,
currently wrestling with a resurgence of voter suppression. Do you agree with Logan that
American democracy is young and fragile? Is voter suppression is a key threat, and are there
other threats to American democracy that you see as equally or more important?
3. Both of the readings for today’s class are concerned about America’s democratic decline. Is
there a case to be made that all three authors are overly pessimistic doomsayers?
