Democracy's Demise? Is Democracy Going out of Fashion



Overview

2024 was the ‘most democratic year in history’, with half the world’s population eligible to vote in a national election. Yet few of the countries involved, and in the many elections in 2025, continue to be defined as ‘full’ democracies but rather as ‘flawed’ ones.

Each year increasing numbers of people live, apparently happily, in openly autocratic states. 

In this course we will take a fascinating tour of the political world today – from North Korea to North America – exploring ideas like ‘democratic recession’ and ‘democratic deficit’, and asking whether some theorists, from Ancient Greece to the present, are right to argue that ‘benevolent dictatorship’ might be preferable to full, participatory democracy.

This course is part of The Oxford Experience summer school, held at Christ Church.

Programme details

Daily schedule

Seminars meet each weekday morning after breakfast.

After lunch, afternoons are free for individual study or exploring the many places of interest in and around the city. Optional plenary excursions and social activities including walking tours will also be available.

The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall. 

On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week.

Seminars

Monday seminars

Democracy and Autocracy – Concepts and History.

  • Course introduction.
  • Social Contract to Democratic Recession - Setting historic and intellectual context.

Elected Dictatorship? – The curious case of autocracy via the ballot box today.

  • The Strongmen (Russia, Turkey and Egypt).

Tuesday seminars

The King of Systems? – Exploring the enduring appeal and success of monarchy.

  • The Right of Kings – Divine or Devine? Enduring monarchy in UK + Europe.
  • The Middle-East – The case for monarchy? The ‘happy’ non-democracies.

Wednesday seminars

Communism Today – Marxist democracy?

  • From Asia to Africa to the Americas.
  • European return?

Thursday seminars

Populism: Return of the demons? – Fascism’s comeback.

  • Europe – Hungary, Poland, France, Germany, Austria.
  • The Americas – from the USA to Brazil.

Friday seminars

Simulation Experience and course wrap-up/conclusion.

We end the course with a simulation experience, an enjoyable and instructive activity with students in small teams playing assigned roles.

This is followed by a course wrap-up/conclusion, drawing together all we have explored. We then consider the future shape of democracy.

Certification

Certificate of Attendance

At the end of the course you will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Digital badge

You will also be issued with an official digital badge of attendance. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download this. You will be able to share this on social media and add to your email signature if you wish to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Fee option 1 (single en suite accom and meals per person) £2380.00
Fee option 2 (single standard accom and meals per person) £2270.00
Fee option 3 (double en suite accom and meals per person) £2260.00
Fee option 4 (twin en suite accom and meals per person) £2260.00
Fee option 5 (twin set standard accom and meals per person) £2260.00
Fee option 6 (no accom; incl lunch and dinner per person) £1660.00

Funding

Please note there are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc) available for the Oxford Experience programme.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the programme administrator, up to the 1 May 2026. In accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.

Supplementary costs

  • Any excursions listed in the 'programme details' above are included in the course fees and do not require a separate payment.
  • If your course includes a day-long excursion, you may need to make your own lunch arrangements.
  • Any optional, plenary excursions/social activities not detailed in the 'programme details' above may incur an additional cost. A social programme outlining these options will be sent to you in advance of the course start date.

Payment terms

  • If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking.
  • If submitting an enrolment form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date.

Cancellations and refunds

Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.

The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check the terms and conditions carefully and to purchase travel insurance.

Tutor

Hagai M. Segal - Tutor

Hagai M. Segal is a multi-award-winning academic, consultant and analyst, specialising in geopolitics, terrorism/counter-terrorism, and the Middle-East. A Departmental Tutor here at Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford and a New York University London professor, he is twice a recipient of NYU annual teaching awards and has extensive experience teaching at leading universities such as NYU, the LSE and King’s College London. Hagai has advised a range of public sector bodies across the globe. He has over 20 years’ experience as a researcher, advisor, educator/trainer and keynote speaker on the strategic and economic impacts of geopolitics in over 30 countries. He also sits on the UK Steering Committee of OSAC (the Overseas Security Advisory Council, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State), and previously served on the London First Security and Resilience Advisory Board for the whole of its 10-year tenure. Hagai is also currently conducting a major piece of academic research on how CEOs and corporate boards understand and address geopolitical risk.

Teaching methods

Participants will be taught in seminar groups of up to 12 people. The teaching methods used during this course may include:

  • Short lectures/presentations
  • Physical handouts
  • Seminars/group discussions
  • Video recordings
  • Other: simulation experience

Application

Enrolment deadline: registration closes at midnight on 1 May 2026. 

Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.

Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.

Online enrolment (single person accommodation and non-residential)

Single accommodation and non-residential places should be booked online by clicking on the 'Book now' button at the top of this page.

Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.

Single bedroom options:

  • Single en suite (private bathroom facilities – shower, washbasin and toilet)

  • Single standard rooms (includes a washbasin and shaver point only, with bathroom facilities shared with other rooms)

Enrolment form (multi-occupancy or accessible accommodation)

Double and twin bedrooms

Double and twin bedrooms are only available for two participants that apply to the programme together. They are charged per person and cannot be booked by individuals. If you wish to book a twin or double room for two people, each person should complete an enrolment form.

Shared bedroom options:

  • Double en suite (private bathroom facilities – shower, washbasin and toilet)
  • Twin en suite (private bathroom facilities – shower, washbasin and toilet)
  • ‘Twin set’ standard (comprising two separate single standard rooms, each with a washbasin and shaver point only, opening onto a private sitting room, with bathroom facilities shared with other rooms)

Ground/lower floor accommodation

Christ Church rooms do not have lift access, and the higher rooms can be located up a few flights of stairs. If you need a room on a ground or lower floor please complete an enrolment form indicate your requirements, or contact the programme administrator directly at oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible before 1 June 2026. 

Enrolment form

The enrolment form is an editable PDF and can be competed electronically, so you should not need to print and scan it. 

Completed forms should be sent:

  • by email to oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk, or

  • by post to The Oxford Experience, Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.

Level and demands

The Oxford Experience is aimed at non-specialists: no prior knowledge is required, and classes are pitched at an introductory level. The courses are designed for an international audience aged 18 and over.

There are no assessments for this course.

Accommodation

During your course you can stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Christ Church, in buildings which range from the 18th to the 20th century. Please note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning.

The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall. 

Residential options are outlined below.

Please see the 'application' section above for guidance on how to book or request the right accommodation for you, including how to request a lower/ground floor room.

Accommodation options at Christ Church

Single, twin and double bedrooms are available. 

We welcome participants who want to attend multiple courses over the summer. Resident participants staying in Christ Church for consecutive weeks will have bed and breakfast accommodation arranged for the Saturday night between their courses at no extra cost.

Non-residential option

We also offer places on a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have lunch and dinner at Christ Church, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere. 

Accommodation before/after your course

We are unable to arrange accommodation at Christ Church prior to or following your course. Please contact Christ Church directly if you require additional nights of bed and breakfast accommodation, and they may be able to assist.

Additionally, family or friends who are not enrolled in the programme cannot be accommodated in college. 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support