Students discussed topics such as what democracy is, whether and how we can systematically compare countries' level of democracy through measurement, and whether the world is growing increasingly autocratic. In relation to this, Professor Scott Gates held a special lecture on the current state of democracy in the United States. We also discussed autocratic politics, how autocratic leaders maintain control, and why they sometimes fail. The students shared their experiences about the conduct of elections, censorship and the relationship between the government and the people from vastly different countries around the globe.