Democracy and Governance Studies

The Democracy and Governance Program at Georgetown University consists of the MA in Democracy and Governance and the Center for Democracy and Civil Society.

The Center for Democracy and Civil Society (CDACS) was established in 2003 to expand and deepen theory, research and teaching on the relationship between democratic governance and civil society. Through its programs, research activities, and publications, the Center integrates robust theoretical perspectives and rigorous empirical methods, combines domestic and international research and teaching agendas, and brings together scholars and students from diverse national backgrounds and academic disciplines. CDACS is currently undertaking two primary research activities, election exit polls in sub-Saharan Africa to examine the micro-foundations of vote choice and the Globalization of Autocracy to analyze patterns of cooperation among authoritarian regimes. CDACS also publishes the bi-annual Democracy and Society. This publication is intended to be a venue for the exchange of ideas about crucial issues relating to democracy and civil society, and an outlet for contributions from faculty and students both at Georgetown and from other institutions.

The MA in Democracy and Governance began in 2007. The goal of the program is to prepare students for academic and policy careers in addressing the diverse challenges and obstacles to promoting sustained democratization and achieving effective governance. The curriculum focuses on the challenges of democratization and achieving accountable government, the global forces that foster political change, and the practical problems of democracy assistance.