In this course, we will explore whether or not we're experiencing a democratic recession in which the norms of dictatorship are becoming more widely accepted. We'll ask how authoritarian regimes are working to influence the world in order to make it safe for dictatorship. Some of the specific tactics we'll examine include the distribution of misinformation on social media, the hiring of foreign lobbying firms, and even assassinating dissidents living in exile. We'll ask whether these tactics are new or recycled, and whether aggressive actions by the world's dictators constitute an existential threat to democracy.