The conference addresses the origin and prospects of democracy and dictatorship, policy control and governance structures in comparative political systems and transition processes from dictatorship to democracy and vice versa. Bringing together scholars interested in interdisciplinary work on comparative political systems is our focus.

We welcome theoretical as well as empirical papers by both economists and other social scientists. In particular, papers may cover topics such as:

•Political accountability in autocracies and democracies

•Violence, conflicts, and revolutions

•Political stability and transitions

•Institutional change and prosperity

•Constitutional history of democracy

•Culture, religion, and political institutions.