Political Economy of Authoritarianism

Political Economy of Authoritarianism

Political economy autocracies - Gilev (1)

Faculty:

Spring 2026: January 28, 2026 – May 19, 2026
Schedule: Wed, Fri 17:50 – 19:10 CET | 11:50 – 13:10 EDT
Subject: PS
Level: 200
Credits: 4 US / 8 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Language of Instruction: English
Prerequisites: No

Politics and economics are closely related. In order to understand political processes, it is useful to know the laws of the economy. In this course, we will examine the economic foundations of authoritarian regimes. We will learn about economic growth, inequality, labor and capital, international trade, class coalitions, migration, skills and innovation, economic voting and collective action, welfare state, central banking, international organizations, and other topics of concern to economists. We will look at authoritarian regimes from the angle of these topics to explain the resilience of autocracies and their policy choices. By completing this course, students will be able to analyze the economic background of political processes in autocracies.

Guidelines for the Statement of Interest:
Craft a reflective statement explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.