War Against Liberal Democracy: Weaponiza

This course explores how the Russian state under Vladimir Putin has deployed homophobia and appeals to "traditional values" as tools of political control, ideological warfare, and foreign policy. It examines the domestic origins of this agenda, the role of propaganda platforms such as RT and Russian troll farms in exporting these narratives globally, and the resonance of Russian-style traditionalism in various geopolitical contexts—including Eastern Europe, the Arab world, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Through case studies, media analysis, and frameworks from political science, media studies, and queer theory, students will assess how authoritarian regimes manipulate ideas of gender, family, and "moral order" to undermine liberal democracy and build international ideological alliances. The course includes comparative analysis with other illiberal regimes, media literacy work on disinformation, and attention to resistance efforts by civil society and LGBTQ+ communities. Guest speakers may join some sessions to provide firsthand insight into these global dynamics.