Political Science

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

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Module Code: POU44121

Module Name: Challenges to Modern Democracy 2025-26

ECTS Weighting: 5
Semester/Term Taught: Semester 1
Contact Hours: TBC
Module Personnel: Dr Redmond Scales

Learning Outcomes

The module covers key concepts, arguments and evidence assessing the causes and effects of challenges to modern democracy. This module will equip students with the skills to identify the key traits associated with issues such as illiberalism, the rise of authoritarianism and democratic backsliding while designing their own research topic.

Module Learning Aims

By the end of the semester, students are expected to be able to:

Explain and critically examine concepts and challenges to democracy, such as illiberalism, democratic backsliding and the rise of authoritarianism.
Examine the effect of illiberal practises on democratic institutions.
Examine and explain challenges to the process of democratisation in nondemocratic and developing states.
Design their own research proposal on a topic relating to challenges to modern democracy.

Module Content

Around the world, democracy is under attack. In the year 2023, Freedom House reported that global freedom has declined for the 18th consecutive year in a row. Political freedoms declined in 52 countries, including democratic states such as Poland and Hungry. At the same time, only 21 countries experienced advancements in Political Rights and Freedoms in 2023 (Freedom House, 2024). How can we conceptualise democracy? What are the challenges to modern democracy and democratisation? How are current democracies undermining rights, freedoms and institutions? What can we do to ensure democracy survives?

This module look at key concepts and building blocks of democracy and how democratic ideals and institution are being eroded on a global level. The module will examine contemporary cases looking at challenges such as attacks on democratic institutions, the recession of political rights and electoral manipulation. Additionally this module will examine challenges to democratisation as a process, looking at topics such as, International Development, Transnational Repression and the Rise of Authoritarianism.