This course explores the postwar transition of governments to democratic institutions throughout the 20th and the 21st century. Numerous peacekeeping operations and military interventions have sought to create institutions that will afford citizens the opportunity to participate in government. The reasoning behind this is straightforward: scholars and policymakers agree that democratic institutions should be solution to prevent recurring violence. The outcome of these efforts, however, has been a difficult lesson: an effective transition is much more complicated than just holding an election or rotating leadership. A number of factors - such as socio-economic development, historical experience, and trust - can influence the process against democratization. The first part of this course will address these debates and reflect on how they contribute to our understanding of whether democratic institutions can take root. The second part of the course will address the institutional changes that become necessary in an effort to build a democracy. In transitioning a government, the actors involved will have to: design power-sharing arrangements among factions, engage in constitutional negotiations, tackle rampant corruption, address the demands of an emerging civil society, and establish the rule of law. Examples discussed will include Haiti, the Weimar Republic, Japan, Mozambique, Angola, and Afghanistan. In this course, students will critically assess theories of democratic transitions, the various ensuing institutional changes, and historical case studies to arrive at a deeper understanding of the theoretical and policy implications for liberalizing the state after a major conflict. Essentially, students taking this course will become experts in one transition through three assignments: first, students will produce an annotated bibliography to establish their knowledge; second, give a research presentation to explain their case to peers; and third, offer policy recommendations on how to learn from or fix the situation.