Transitology – Pathways to and from Democracy (GCHumanRights)

Transitology – Pathways to and from Democracy (GCHumanRights)

In this MOOC, academic lecturers in the field of Regime/System Transformation, Quality of Democracy, Elections, and Comparative Politics have been invited to teach, as well as practitioners, data analysts, and policymakers from countries that are currently struggling with the backsliding of democratic institutions and/or are in demanding political regime change in their countries. Registration deadline: 12 March 2023

The MOOC runs over 5 weeks and is organised in 3 modules.
Module 1 - Transitology and Waves of Democratisation
Module 2 - Modes of Governance and Regime Consolidation
Module 3 - Backsliding of Democracy and Restoring Deficits

Course Description:
Regime change and the transition from one regime type and mode of governance to another do not say much about whether a regime is democratic or whether the rule of law, human rights, or good governance principles are adhered to. What consolidates and successfully transforms democratic institutions into ‘stable democracies’ are the pathways of participatory, inclusive, and trustworthy adherence and compliance with democratic rules and human rights.
In this MOOC, we will ask critical questions: How do countries and political regimes successfully democratise? And what are the causes of democratic backsliding? How do democracies die, and how do they recover, if at all? Together with policymakers, academic researchers, and analysts, we will explore different forms of government and look at theories explaining political and societal transitions, transformation, and consolidation of regimes. We will also present and discuss concrete examples of political transitions and regime changes in different world regions.

Registration deadline: 12 March 2023

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Science and Human Rights (GCHumanRights) Global Campus of Human Rights
Global Campus of Human Rights

Science and Human Rights (GCHumanRights)

Scientific freedom and responsibility have to be enabled and practised. They benefit both scientists and policymakers; they also benefit all of us. Yet, these benefits will not be achieved if the status of scientific freedom and responsibility as a human right, as well as their linkages with other human rights, are not well understood or are plainly neglected. This MOOC, offered in partnership with UNESCO, is the first dedicated educational engagement on the human rights-based approach (HRBA) to scientific freedom and responsibility, which is also accessible, at scale and cross-disciplinary in its engagement with human rights.

Oct 23rd 2022
5-12 Weeks
The Holocaust - An Introduction (I): Nazi Germany: Ideology, The Jews and the World (Coursera) Coursera
Tel Aviv University,Yad Vashem

The Holocaust - An Introduction (I): Nazi Germany: Ideology, The Jews and the World (Coursera)

The Holocaust was an inconceivable historical event, which forever robbed Western culture of its innocence. As civilized human beings, we fail to understand how events of such horror could have taken place, and how an idea so inhumanly warped could have spread like wildfire through an entire continent, instigating the systematic annihilation of millions of Jews. This free online course was produced jointly by Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. The course tracks the history of the Holocaust and has two parts.

Sep 20th 2026
3 Weeks
Socio-Economic Justice through Human Rights (GCHumanRights) Global Campus of Human Rights
Global Campus of Human Rights

Socio-Economic Justice through Human Rights (GCHumanRights)

This MOOC explores current developments in implementing economic and social rights and their role in redressing unjust distribution of resources and powers. It looks at legal frameworks and current political, social and economic challenges to better understand their links with a rights-based approach to socio-economic justice. Through regional examples and case studies, it provides a global overview of difficulties and obstacles but also possible alternatives and solutions. **Registration deadline: 27 February 2022**

Feb 7th 2022
4 Weeks
Découvrir la science politique (edX) EdX
LouvainX,Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL

Découvrir la science politique (edX)

Décrypter des enjeux politiques actuels à partir d’une boîte à outils: des notions importantes, une démarche analytique et une perspective critique. Le politique nous concerne tous : chaque jour, des décisions publiques sont adoptées qui impactent notre quotidien. Dans quel contexte ces décisions sont-elles adoptées ? Au 21ème siècle, de nombreux paradoxes brouillent la vision que nous pouvons en avoir.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
International Human Rights Law (edX) EdX
LouvainX,Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL

International Human Rights Law (edX)

Learn how an individual’s human rights are protected from both public and private power by international laws. Human rights are developed through the constant dialogue between international human rights bodies and domestic courts, in a search that crosses geographical, cultural and legal boundaries. The result is a unique human rights grammar, which this course shall discuss and question, examining the sources of human rights, the rights of individuals, the duties of States, and the mechanisms of protection.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Paradoxes of War (Coursera) Coursera
Princeton University

Paradoxes of War (Coursera)

The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, I hope that you will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues.

Sep 21st 2026
13-24 Weeks
Comparative Political Systems (Coursera) Coursera
University of Naples Federico II

Comparative Political Systems (Coursera)

Comparative politics covers a wide variety of topics and themes. The course starts with the definition of the comparative method giving special emphasis to concept formation and historical and institutional approaches. The bulk of the course is devoted to the theory of coalitions and the processes of government formation, functioning, termination. Through several in-depth analyses, the course will throw light on the way democratic regimes are governed. Electoral rules will receive special attention and their impact both on citizens’ behavior and parties and the party system will be thoroughly examined.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks
Citizenship and the Rule of Law (Coursera) Coursera
University of London

Citizenship and the Rule of Law (Coursera)

"Be you so high, the law is above you." This principle, part of the Rule of Law, has come to represent the powerful idea that even politicians and monarchs are bound by the law. However in an age of powerful corporations, international cyber-crime and popular support for authoritarian leaders, the Rule of Law is under threat worldwide.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Taiwan Law in Focus: Economy, Society and Democracy (Coursera) Coursera
National Taiwan University

Taiwan Law in Focus: Economy, Society and Democracy (Coursera)

“Taiwan Law in Focus” is the first online course provided by the College of Law, National Taiwan University. This course will give you an introduction to the legal system in Taiwan, which includes the topics of Constitution, administration law, criminal law, civil law, corporative law, and some related issues. You will learn about the brief history of Taiwan’s legal system and its transition in recent decades.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Securing Digital Democracy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Securing Digital Democracy (Coursera)

In this course, you'll learn what every citizen should know about the security risks--and future potential — of electronic voting and Internet voting. We'll take a look at the past, present, and future of election technologies and explore the various spaces intersected by voting, including computer security, human factors, public policy, and more.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics & Societal Challenges (Coursera) Coursera
Lund University

Artificial Intelligence: Ethics & Societal Challenges (Coursera)

Artificial Intelligence: Ethics & Societal Challenges is a four-week course that explores ethical and societal aspects of the increasing use of artificial intelligent technologies (AI). The aim of the course is to raise awareness of ethical and societal aspects of AI and to stimulate reflection and discussion upon implications of the use of AI in society.

Sep 21st 2026
4 Weeks