Watch Democracy and Its Alternatives

2023
1 Season

Political science, history, and current affairs rolled into one, this course investigates democratic government in theory and practice. Explore democracy from all available angles with a robust toolbox of political philosophy, world history, international relations, individual case studies, and carefully constructed thought experiments.

Democracy and Its Alternatives is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between November 23, 2023 and on The Great Courses

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Seasons

24. Gridlock and Democracy

November 23, 2023

Conclude the course with an overview of modern democracy, in America and abroad. Survey political history from the rise of agricultural societies to the technological revolution of today. Review the merits and pitfalls of democracy and its alternatives. And close by examining the role international agreements play in global governance.

23. Why It

November 23, 2023

Politics requires collective action. But that is much easier said than done. How does the government enable collective action? And when can collective action problems solve themselves?

22. When the Balance of Power Breaks Down

November 23, 2023

When balances of power break down, disaster can strike. How can a powerful institution

21. Is the European Union a Success or Failure?

November 23, 2023

The European Union is a unique and mysterious institution. But what is it? How is it organized? And how has it fared in the face of a sovereign debt crisis, a refugee crisis, and Brexit?

20. The Global Fault Lines of Trade

November 23, 2023

Why is international trade so controversial? And why does protectionism find support from both sides of the political spectrum? Delve into the global battle between free trade and protectionism, moving from Bill Clinton

19. What Really Causes Wealth and Poverty?

November 23, 2023

Why are some nations rich and others poor? Examine concepts like GDP, the resource curse, colonialism, and the economy of trust to see how they affect economic development. And consider whether economic development is always a desirable goal in the first place.

18. Partition, Peacekeeping, and Human Crisis

November 23, 2023

What is humanitarian intervention? And should the international community intervene to prevent a genocide or to keep the peace between warring factions? If not, what alternatives exist to avert humanitarian catastrophe? Closely examine and analyze these questions through a diverse array of global case studies.

17. When States Fail, What Comes Next?

November 23, 2023

Believe it or not, whole states can fail

16. The Dictator

November 23, 2023

How does authoritarianism emerge in a country? And can we predict when and whether a dictator will come to power? From violent revolution in Cuba to a military coup in Egypt and democratic elections in Nazi Germany, you will investigate the origins of dictatorships along with how strongmen gain and maintain power.

15. Who Backs Authoritarians?

November 23, 2023

The truth of the matter is that authoritarianism can make for an appealing alternative to democracy. Explore this notorious form of government by evaluating how dictatorships work and how they differ around the world.

14. The Controversial Politics of Central Banks

November 23, 2023

Central banks, powerful custodians of currency and the economy, deserve our attention. Explore how these banks work, as well as the powers they wield. Understand why central bank administrators and politicians so often clash. And evaluate the benefits and shortcomings of independent central banks, using contemporary examples.

13. Are Courts and Constitutions Democratic?

November 23, 2023

Healthy democracies must have constitutions and courts, but constitutions are usually old, and judges are often unelected. How do we make sense of this strange paradox? From the United States to Japan, explore constitutions and courts around the world, and see how democracy fits into the mix

12. The Problems with Federalism

November 23, 2023

In 1790, a federation was born in the United States. But states remained distinct and powerful political entities, and separatism remains a potent threat to federal governments across the world. At the course

11. Do Political Parties Help or Hurt?

November 23, 2023

Political parties, detested by the likes of George Washington and John Adams, are nevertheless key features of modern democracies. What role do they play when it comes to elections and policymaking? How do they differ across the world? And are multi-party systems better than two-party systems? Examine these questions and more.

10. The Vote Counter Decides Everything

November 23, 2023

Voting is a defining feature of any democracy. But how are votes tabulated? And what even counts as a majority? Well, when it comes to tabulating election results, there is no single formula; there are many. Survey three voting systems

9. Should Presidents or Parliaments Lead?

November 23, 2023

What is the difference between a president and a prime minister? How much power should the chief executive wield? And which is more stable, presidential or parliamentary democracy?

8. Voters and the Dangers of Too Much Democracy

November 23, 2023

Continue your dive into democracy by zooming in on its most glaring flaws. Move from issues like voter apathy to the chilling specter of mob rule, evaluating these real-world threats to democracy, as well as the potential for democracy to overcome them.

7. Who Gets to Vote?

November 23, 2023

What are the three fundamental characteristics of democracy? And what limitations on the right to vote are compatible with democratic government? Explore the advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect democracy. Finish by examining illiberal democracies and what they look like.

6. Why Care about Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau?

November 23, 2023

Put on your philosopher

5. States, Nations, and Nationalism

November 23, 2023

Nationalism and ethnic conflict are centuries old. Coupled with high-tech weaponry, however, they can be extraordinarily deadly. Investigate nationalism through a handful of case studies, exploring how ethnic, religious, or linguistic conflict has unfolded in places like Iraq and Turkey, how it is mitigated in Switzerland and Belgium, and the threat it poses in Catalonia and Scotland.

4. The Rise of the Modern State

November 23, 2023

The overwhelming majority of us live in what are called sovereign states, the fundamental unit of political organization. Dive into the history of the modern state, traversing medieval and early modern Europe from feudalism to the Treaty of Westphalia, and examine the religious, cultural, and economic changes that reoriented political authority in the West.

3. Government and the Invention of Law

November 23, 2023

What is law? When was it invented and why? How do governments enforce the laws that they create? And how do constitutions

2. Politics and Personal Sacrifice

November 23, 2023

How does a group fractured by competing interests come to a decision, and when does it make sense to sacrifice one

1. Is Democracy Built to Last?

November 23, 2023

In the course

Description

Democracy and Its Alternatives is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between November 23, 2023 and on The Great Courses

Where to Watch Democracy and Its Alternatives

Democracy and Its Alternatives is available for streaming on the The Great Courses website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Democracy and Its Alternatives on demand at Amazon Prime and Amazon.