Students are encouraged to include a study abroad experience as part of their undergraduate studies. We offer a department-sponsored program, “Developing Dynamics of Democracy,” where students learn about democracy in Prague for four weeks over the summer. Students will earn Pol Sc 4840 credit for this experience.
In this course, we consider what defines a democracy and the ways in which democratic institutions vary across countries. We will learn about the trajectories of democracy in post-communist Central Europe, covering the revolutions in 1989, the complexities of the democratic and economic transitions, and the governance variations we observe today. We will consider how differences in democratic institutions (parliamentary systems versus presidential systems), electoral systems (proportional representation versus single-member-districts), and party systems affect political representation, quality of governance, and policy outcomes. In assessing this, we will compare the US to the Czech Republic and other European countries. In addition to in-class meetings, course excursions in the Prague region will deepen our appreciation of the Czech Republic's history, culture, and politics.