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IRG-106 · School of International Relations & Geopolitics

State Failure, Sovereignty & Regime Dynamics

Credential: Certificate in State Failure

Course outline

Module 1: States, Governments, and Political Regimes5 items
  1. 1.1State, Government, Regime, and Nationvideo
  2. 1.2State Capacityvideo
  3. 1.3Legitimacy and Authorityvideo
  4. 1.4Fragility, Failure, and the Limits of Resiliencevideo
  5. 1.5Building a State Capacity ProfileAssessment
Module 2: Sovereignty and Contested Authority5 items
  1. 2.1Sovereignty and Recognitionvideo
  2. 2.2Borderlands and Uneven State Presencevideo
  3. 2.3Informal and Traditional Authoritiesvideo
  4. 2.4External Dependence and Local Ownershipvideo
  5. 2.5Mapping Contested AuthorityAssessment
Module 3: Drivers of Institutional Fragility5 items
  1. 3.1Exclusion and Elite Competitionvideo
  2. 3.2Corruption and Patronagevideo
  3. 3.3Fiscal Stress and Resource Dependencevideo
  4. 3.4Demographic, Environmental, and Displacement Pressuresvideo
  5. 3.5Explaining Interacting Fragility DriversAssessment
Module 4: Regime Types and Political Survival5 items
  1. 4.1Democratic, Authoritarian, and Hybrid Regimesvideo
  2. 4.2Coalitions, Co-optation, and Repressionvideo
  3. 4.3Elections and Civil Societyvideo
  4. 4.4Constraints, Succession, and Adaptationvideo
  5. 4.5Comparative Regime AnalysisAssessment
Module 5: Political Transitions and Regime Breakdown5 items
  1. 5.1Negotiated Transitionsvideo
  2. 5.2Coups and Civil–Military Relationsvideo
  3. 5.3Mass Mobilizationvideo
  4. 5.4Transitional Institutions and Electoral Sequencingvideo
  5. 5.5Political Transition Scenario ExerciseAssessment
Module 6: Conflict, Armed Actors, and Human Security5 items
  1. 6.1Armed Actorsvideo
  2. 6.2Conflict Economiesvideo
  3. 6.3Civilian Protection and Essential Servicesvideo
  4. 6.4Ceasefires and Peace Agreementsvideo
  5. 6.5Conflict and Human Security AnalysisAssessment
Module 7: Early Warning and Political Risk Assessment5 items
  1. 7.1Indicators and the Limits of Datavideo
  2. 7.2Vulnerabilities, Triggers, and Escalationvideo
  3. 7.3Scenarios, Thresholds, and Confidencevideo
  4. 7.4Communicating Riskvideo
  5. 7.5Early-Warning BriefAssessment
Module 8: Stabilization and Institutional Recovery5 items
  1. 8.1Local Ownership and Political Settlementsvideo
  2. 8.2Services, Public Finance, and Administrationvideo
  3. 8.3Security Sector Reform and Justicevideo
  4. 8.4Sequencing and Measuring Recoveryvideo
  5. 8.5Integrated Recovery StrategyAssessment

How you complete this course

  • Each module ends with an assessment. Score 80% or higher to unlock the next module.
  • After all modules: an applied final project and a proctored final examination.
  • Your progress is saved automatically, and you get reminders before deadlines.