Since the early 2010s, many observers of international politics have become concerned with an increasing assertiveness of major autocracies. Not only are autocracies themselves becoming of greater importance in global politics, the line dividing autocracy and democracy has become more opaque than it has been any time since the end of the Cold War. Understanding how authoritarian regimes work is of increasing importance to policymakers, social scientists, and informed citizens alike. This course will cover a portion of the growing literature on the politics of authoritarian regimes that attempt to answer some key questions in this subfield. For instance, how do authoritarian regimes differ from democratic regimes? What incentives drive autocrats to behave the way they do? What are the economic consequences of living under autocratic rule?