AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at analysing the contemporary political change, with particular attention to the evolution of democratic systems. On the one hand, the economic, social and cultural factors that favour the democratic processes will be examined, especially in the emerging countries and those that has just come out from a civil war. On the other, the events - economic crisis, globalization, technological innovation, migrations – that can threaten the stability of consolidated democracies and reduce their quality will be studied.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide the conceptual tools necessary to understand both democratization processes and democratic crises. The course will also address the main quantitative and qualitative methods used to study regime change, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Finally, the course will critically discuss the potential real-world applications of scientific knowledge on regime change.

• Understanding the determinants of democratization and democratic backsliding processes; • Distinguishing between probabilistic and deterministic causation; • Using the implications of empirical research to design robust political institutions.

TEACHING METHODS

Most classes will include traditional lectures; however, active participation is strongly encouraged. To this end, it is essential that students review the course materials before each corresponding lecture to enable critical engagement. The final part of the course will involve more active student participation through case study presentations and/or simulations. The course is taught in English and delivered exclusively in person.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will focus on:

1. Democracies, hybrid regimes, and competitive authoritarianism
2. Characteristics, consequences, and causes of regime change
3. Capitalism and democracy
4. Collective action for democracy

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Textbook:
J. Teorell, The Determinants of Democratization, Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Additional material for the monographic section will be assigned at the beginning of the course and detailed in a dedicated syllabus.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIAMPIERO CAMA (President)

FABRIZIO COTICCHIA (President)

MARCO DI GIULIO (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be in written form exam during the first two available exam sessions immediately after the end of the course. 
Thereafter, the exam will be taken in the oral form.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam, conceived for attending students but oper to all, consists of open-ended questions, each assigned a score. Some questions will assess knowledge of concepts, while others will evaluate the ability to apply them critically with reference to the required readings.
The oral exam assesses students’ ability to present and discuss the theoretical concepts covered during the course, as well as their ability to describe and interpret empirical cases discussed and analyzed in class.
Both types of assessment value the quality of exposition, the rigorous use of specialized terminology, and the ability to engage in critical and original reasoning on the course content.

FURTHER INFORMATION

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).
Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.