An in-depth exploration of democracy, democratization, and democratic erosion through competing theoretical explanations. Organized around three core questions — Why do democracies emerge? Why do democracies erode? Why do some democracies resist erosion while others succumb?

Introduces graduate students to the study of human rights by examining the political, social, and institutional forces that shape patterns of repression and accountability — from the origins of human rights norms to transitional justice, advocacy networks, and international legal compliance.

Examines the political forces that have shaped Latin America over the past two centuries — state formation, violence, democratization, and citizenship — organized thematically around scholarly debates rather than country-by-country surveys.

Examines the causes, dynamics, and aftermath of civil wars — covering security dilemmas, greed vs. grievance debates, social networks, recruitment, violence against civilians, counterinsurgency, rebel governance, ideology, war termination, and long-term legacies.