This course mixes broad theoretical discussions with in-depth case studies in order to shed light on the challenges involved in influencing repressive states. The first module draws on comparative politics to elucidate the internal characteristics of repressive states, including their motivations, stability and overall susceptibility to international influences. The second module surveys the international relations literatures on international influence in general, and democracy and human rights more specifically. Finally, in the third module, these general insights are combined and applied to several prominent contemporary case studies in order to evaluate different international policy options. Students will have the opportunity in class discussions and assessment essays to apply the general ideas and concepts to a variety of repressive states depending on their own interests, using general skills of policy analysis taught in the course.