The University of South Florida Nondemocratic Regimes Discussion

After reading Chapter 6 (Nondemocratic Regimes), answer separately in your own words (paraphrasing when needed) two of the following questions. Then,reply to three classmates’ threads.

Questions:

1. 1. What is the link between civil society and populism in nondemocratic systems? Is the presence of a strong civil society always democratic?
   2. What is co-optation? How do nondemocratic regimes achieve political control through co-optation?
   3. What are the five forms of nondemocratic rule and what is each one’s preferred method of control? In recent years, are nondemocratic regimes retreating or retrenching? Why?
   4. How is totalitarianism different from other forms of nondemocratic rule? Why have some scholars suggested that the concept of totalitarianism be abandoned in comparative politics?

Threaded Discussion Requirements:

• You are required to answer two of my questions, thus starting two new discussion threads for other students to reply.
  • • Each answer to my questions should be in at least 300 words, totaling 600 words for both answers.
      • Greetings or compliments will not be counted toward the length requirement of each thread.
    • Each answer should be posted separately.
      • Thus, you should have two separate threads for each discussion.
    • Both answers to my questions should be posted by no later than Friday of the discussion week.
      • This is done to provide you sufficient time to reply to your classmates’ answers.
• You are required to use the textbook as the primary course of information.
  • • External source may be used to enrich your responses; however, such use should be secondary.
    • Your answers should demonstrate to me that you have both engaged and critically thought about the readings.
• You are required to reply to at least three other students’ main responses-threads.
  • • Each reply to your classmates’ threads should be in at least 100 words, totaling at least 300 words for all three replies.
      • Each reply should be substantial and discuss related ideas or concepts
      • Greetings or compliments will not be counted toward the length requirement of each thread or reply.
• You are required to provide in-text citations and references in the 6th edition of the APA writing format.
• Have to have access to the book below
• O’Neil, Patrick H. 2017. Essentials of Comparative Politics. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company (ISBN-13: 978-0393624588)