DWA 227 Authoritarianism in the Age of Globalization
Thirty years after Francis Fukuyama proclaimed the "End of History," political authoritarianism remains viable while democracy is increasingly under threat around the world. Many dictators have embraced hypermobility of capital, free trade, and modern information technology. At the same time, deepening globalization has also challenged long-established democratic systems, producing anti-democratic political movements. We will investigate some of the following questions produced by the clash between global capitalism and local politics: How do authoritarian leaders react to the challenges of globalization in the 21st century? Does globalization undermine or enhance their hold on power? Will authoritarianism or democracy survive a long-term engagement with global markets?