Comparative Democratic Development Part I: Conditions of Democracy
Conditions of Democracy is the first course in a two-part series intended as a broad survey of the political, social, cultural, economic, institutional, and international factors that foster and obstruct the development and consolidation of democracy.

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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a textbook?
There is no required textbook for this course, although students are strongly encouraged to follow along with the recommended readings and to seek out other articles as mentioned by Professor Diamond during lecture.
The reading list can be found on the course platform, along with links to available articles and downloadable PDFs in the Conditions of Democracy Course Reader link found at the top and right side of the page. The readings complement and enrich the course lectures. Students are not required to do all the reading, but they are strongly encouraged to read at least one or two articles each week. The more you read, the more you will gain from the class.
How will I be graded in this course?
There will be a review quiz each week and one final exam. Most of the questions will relate to the lecture material but some questions may address key readings. In order to receive a certificate, students must maintain an average score of at least 75% on the weekly quizzes and also on the final exam. (The lowest of the six weekly quiz scores can be dropped to determine the final average.)
There will be 2 lectures per weekly unit, excepting week 6, which will have one. Students can expect 12 questions per quiz and will have two attempts to pass.
The final exam is timed and will cover material from all lectures. There is only one attempt allowed, so please review the course material beforehand and make sure to take it in an area with minimal distractions.