Starting with the recent literature of democratic transitions, consolidation, and de-democratization, the course will investigate the common, apparently cyclical pattern of these processes in diverse international settings. With recent cases in mind we will consider the role of methods of radical change (revolution, reform, comprehensive negotiations, secession) in the timing and character of democratic as well as authoritarian outcomes. During the last third of the course, we will take a long term historical view, and consider the problem of a cycle between democratic achievements and authoritarian regression in a variety of settings from the 18c. age of democratic revolutions, to the two 20 th c. post world war contexts, and finally the collapse of the Soviet Empire.