Legal Studies 394MI - Authoritarian Law

Authoritarianism is on the rise throughout the world. According to some estimates, as of 2022 about 72% of the world's population lived under some form of authoritarianism, up from 46% in 2012. Countries that were once democracies are backsliding into authoritarianism and those that were somewhere in between have become more closed and repressive. One of the most important tools in the toolkit of authoritarian regimes is the law. Would-be authoritarians use it to consolidate their power and eliminate enemies. But law also offers the possibility of resistance in these closed contexts. This course explores the logic and lived reality of law in authoritarian countries by focusing on a variety of themes, actors and experiences across multiple country contexts. In this course, students will engage with the topic of authoritarian law to reflect on their experiences and previous learning, take different perspectives, work collaboratively, and think critically about this pressing problem. This course satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Legal majors.

Open to Senior and Junior Legal Studies majors only. Pre Req: LEGAL 250