1 – Definitions and Why They Matter

What Is Democracy, Liberalism, Illiberalism, and Autocracy?

We talk about democracy, authoritarianism, and illiberalism all the time — in news articles, political speeches, and everyday conversations. But we rarely stop to ask what we actually mean by these words.

This module starts from a simple idea: how we define political concepts shapes how we understand political change. If we define democracy only as elections, we may miss how it erodes. If we treat everything we dislike as authoritarian, we lose the ability to see important differences.

Rather than starting with answers, this module begins with definitions — and with your own assumptions. Together, we will unpack what these concepts mean, how they differ, and why those differences matter for understanding today’s political conflicts.