Challenges to Democracy in East Asia (DHP-P270M)

Fall 2024 · DHP P270M · Tufts University · 1.5 credits · Undergraduate

Democracy stands on fragile ground. Challenges to democracy are mounting everywhere, even in places like the United States—the global beacon for liberal democracy. What is even more alarming is that democracies today do not die by sudden external threats or coups. They weaken gradually from within at the hands of democratically elected leaders who capitalize on internal divisions and subvert institutions to maximize power, not democracy. What is the nature of contemporary challenges to democracy and how serious are they? Is democracy really in decline? This course examines broad questions about challenges to democracy through the specific lens of East Asia. Prominent democracies are faltering in all regions, but the status of the East Asian democracies holds particular importance to global politics. They are the most adjacent neighbors to the world’s arguably most powerful authoritarian regime—China. Unique lessons can be learned about why democracies succeed and fail by looking closely at a single region that houses both developmentally successful democracies as well as repressive and resilient autocracies.

Course codes: DHP-P270M

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