Ilja A. Luciak, J.D. Ph.D.
Professor
iluciak@icloud.com
Office hours: by appointment
Spring 2026
Regime Change and Democratic Consolidation
A Comparative Analysis of Violent Political Change in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba, and Central America
April 13-May 29, 2026
In this course we analyze processes of violent political change focusing on Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central America and Cuba. We look at the revolutionary struggles in Latin America and the current reality in the Middle East, examining the forces that drive violent political change. The course seeks to highlight the relevance of the instructor's field research to the students' learning experience. To achieve this objective, we will employ a variety of techniques, including extensive discussion of the instructor's published work related to the course and use of resources available through the Internet. Every student is required to keep up with the daily news relevant to the course. A key focus of our current events discussions will be Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.
This course focuses on the causes of revolutionary change in Central America and Cuba with a special emphasis on gender equality and democratization. Parallels are established between the Latin American experience and violent political change in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will begin with a discussion of Ukraine, followed by an exploration of Afghanistan and Iraq. This is followed by a historical introduction of U.S.-Latin American relations. Next, we study the case of Nicaragua with an emphasis on the Sandinista political project, the ensuing counterrevolution, and the return to power of the Ortega regime. This discussion is followed by an analysis of the roots of violent political change. We specifically investigate different forms of popular protest and the agrarian question. We also examine a central catalyst of change – religion. Finally, we study El Salvador and Cuba.
Student evaluation in this course is based on a research design, a research presentation, a mid-term, and a final exam. The exams will be essay in form and there will be no make-up exams. I will give a take-home final that will be handed out on the last day of class. The exam has to be returned on the date indicated by the instructor. It is imperative that the student keeps up with the weekly reading assignments.
A research design outlining the basic research question to be explored in the research presentation (1 page max) is a required submission. The design should state the research question to be explored, present a brief outline of your presentation, and cite three pertinent sources. Every participant in this course will present a research presentation based on his/her research. The presentation should be in the form of a power point and be about 8-10 minutes long.
The use of AI for class assignments is not permitted.
Grading Scale:
A: 100-94
A-: 93-88
B+: 87-80
B: 79-71
B-: 70-63
C+: 62-58
F: 57-0
Course grades will be computed as follows:
Mid-term exam 30%
Research design 10%
Research presentation 20%
Final examination 40%
The following texts are required for this course and are available for purchase at
Amazon:
Required Texts:
Thabit A. J. Abdullah, Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos (London and New York: Zed Press,
2006).
Samuel Charap und Timothy J. Colton, Everyone Loses: The Ukraine Crisis and the Ruinous Contest for Post-Soviet Eurasia, (International Institute for Strategic Studies, 2016).
Joan Didion, Salvador (New York: Vintage Books, 1982).
Ilja A. Luciak, Gender and Democracy in Cuba (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2009).
Thomas W. Walker and Christine J. Wade, Nicaragua: Emerging from the Shadow of the Eagle
(Boulder: Westview Press, 2017, Sixth edition).
Every effort will be made to accommodate students with disabilities. Please see Professor Luciak if you need to make such arrangements.
Exam and Assignments Due Dates:
Mid-term Exam Week 3
Research Design Week 4
Research Presentations Week 6
Final Exam Week 7
LECTURE AND DISCUSSION TOPICS
I. Case Study: Ukraine
II. Case Study: Afghanistan/Iraq
A. Afghanistan
B. The Rise of Modern Iraq
C. Dictatorship and War
D. The Invasion and its Aftermath
III. The United States and Latin America: Historical and Analytical Background
A. U.S.-Latin American Relations
B. Key Factors for Guerrilla Success
IV. Case Study: Nicaragua
A. Historical Background
B. Revolution and Democracy
C. The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)
D. The Counterrevolution
E. The Rise of Authoritarianism
V. The Roots of Violent Change
A. Power and Popular Protest
B. The Agrarian Question
VI. A Catalyst of Change: Religion
A. Liberation Theology
B. The Rise of Evangelical and Muslim Fundamentalism
VII. Case Study: El Salvador
A. The Roots of Revolution
B. The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN)
C. The Government of President Nayib Bukele
VIII. The Central American Peace Accords
IX. Case Study: Cuba
A. The Gender Composition of the Central American and Cuban Guerrilla Movements
B. Social and Political Change after 1959
C. Competing Visions of Democracy
D. Party and State: Gender Equality in Political Decision-making
READING ASSIGNMENTS
The chapters listed below are to be read prior to the indicated class period.
Week 1 Samuel Charap und Timothy J. Colton, Everyone Loses, 17-71
Charap und Colton, Everyone Loses, 151-185.
Week 2 Thabit A. J. Abdullah, Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos, 1-31.
Abdullah, Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos, 32-87.
Week 3 Abdullah, Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos, 88-121.
Thomas Walker, and Christine Wade, Nicaragua,: Emerging from the Shadow of the Eagle, 1-33.
Week 4 Walker and Wade, Nicaragua, 33-111.
Walker and Wade, Nicaragua, 111-155.
Week 5 Walker and Wade, Nicaragua, 155-213.
Joan Didion, El Salvador.
Week 6 Ilja Luciak, Gender and Democracy in Cuba, 1- 62.
Luciak, Gender and Democracy in Cuba, 63-115.
Research presentations
Exam Week Final Exam
- Instructor: Ilia Luciak