COURSE DESCRIPTION
Autocracies have been part of human society for millennia. Currently they appear almost ubiquitous. This course will begin by asking: Are they inevitable? What types of autocracies are there and have there been? How do they arise and how do they function? How do we account for their rise in modern democratic societies? Importantly, how do they fall? What have been the arguments defending them as a way of organizing social arrangements from family to politics to economic systems? Our course is seminar style. Each session will begin with your questions and comments and a short presentation providing background on some aspect of our subject. As soon as an email list is available you will receive short articles and references to pieces online. There will be one or more guest resources.

One-pager
A syllabus is available for this course with additional details. To view, please follow this link: https://cmaprinceton.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/F25-EXPLORING-AUTOCRACIES.pdf

COURSE LEADER
Martin Oppenheimer is professor emeritus of sociology, Rutgers University. He has participated in, taught and written about social movements for about seventy-five years.

GENERAL INFORMATION
This Evergreen Forum course will take place virtually via Zoom. Zoom links are sent 24 hours before each class. Any general questions or concerns about this event should be directed to CMAP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 609-751-9699.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS are available. Please submit a request form by following the link here to apply.

REFUND INFORMATION
· We invite you to donate your refund to CMAP. Call us for more information
· Refund checks will be issued for cash, check, and credit card payments
· Payments made electronically will be refunded electronically
· Refund processing time is approximately 2 weeks
· Up to the start of the second week of an Evergreen Forum Course — refunds will be issued minus a $25 processing fee
· No refund will be offered after the second week of class.
· There will be a $25 processing fee for refunds to those who register for the same program more than once