Introduction to Comparative Politics
Political Science 230-001
Fall Semester 2008

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Horan                                                                        
Office: Leutze Hall 261
Phone: 962-7929
Office Hours: TR 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and by appointment.
Class Location and Time: LH 111; TR 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

             This course is designed to introduce the student to the contemporary study of comparative politics.  This will be accomplished by providing the student with a global perspective that will lend itself to increasing the student's political literacy in comparative as well as domestic politics.  This course examines the logic and importance of comparison in the context of a world in which increased technological sophistication has brought fundamental change and increased interdependence.  The theme for the course will be that of democratization and democracy.  We will focus on a series of questions: What is democracy?  How is it achieved?  and finally, How is democracy sustained and spread to other nations?  These questions will be answered using the comparative approach which will allow us to discover, some fundamental truths about politics.  These truths should be found to hold regardless of national context.

 

Course Requirements:

Almond, Gabriel, G. Bingham Powell, Kaare Strom, Russell J. Dalton. Eds. 2008. Comparative Politics Today: A World View. Pearson Longman*.

    *The text was available in used version at Amazon.com in prices ranging from 15.00-50.00 dollars.  This is an expensive text but because it is widely used there should be many less expensive copies available.

U.S. State Department Background Notes

 Assignments:
   1)      Read all assigned materials and attend class.
   2)      Complete two exams.
   3)   Write two 4 page issue papers.
Course Schedule: This is a general outline of material.  This outline can and will change depending on class discussion, current events, and student or instructor interest in topics that arise during the semester.  It is the responsibility of the student to attend class so that you know where we are on the syllabus.  Students who do not attend regularly and lose track of what is going on should not expect assistance from the instructor.
Week I:    

8/21 Introduction                   

Almond Chapter 1

   

Week II:           

 
8/26 Issues & Concepts in Comparative Politics   Almond Chapter 1
8/28 Issues & Concepts in Comparative Politics Almond Chapter 1
   
Week III:  

9/2 Comparing Political Systems

 Almond Chapter 2  
9/4 Comparing Political Systems Almond Chapter 2  
Issue: Terrorism, Video "In Search of bin Laden"
   
Week IV:  
9/9 Political Culture Almond Chapter 3
9/11 Political Culture and Political Socialization    Almond Chapter 3
   
Week V:    
9/16 Civic Culture and Other theoretical approaches Almond Chapter 3
9/18 Interest Articulation and Aggregation Almond Chapters 4 & 5
ISSUE PAPER ONE DUE TODAY  
Week VI:  
9/23 Interest Aggregation & Political Parties Almond Chapters 4 & 5
9/25 Government & Policymaking Almond Chapter 6
   
Week VII:  
9/30Public Policy Almond Chapter 7
10/2  Midterm Examination  
   
Week VIII:  
10/7  Fall Break David Glenn Democratic Collapse
10/9 Political Science Days; attendance required - No Class

Students must attend one Political Science Days event and present me with your ticket (which you will receive at the  session) indicating that you were there.  PLS days will be focusing on the 2008 Presidential election so the sessions should be especially relevant and interesting

 

  
Week IX:  
10/14 Democracy and Democratization as a process  
10/16  Western Democracy: Great Britain Almond, Chapter 8
Week X:  
10/21 Western Democracy: France Almond, Chapter 9
10/23 Democracy and Latin America: Mexico Almond, Chapter 14
Chiapas Video
ISSUE PAPER TWO DUE TODAY  
   
Week XI:  
10/28  Democracy and Latin America: Brazil Almond, Chapter 15
10/30 Democracy and Latin America: Brazil  
   
Week XII:  
11/4 Communism to Democracy: Russia Almond, Chapter 12
11/6 the democratic facade to regional authoritarianism: Russia  Chechnya Video - In Class discussion
 Interview with Ana Politkovskaya in Memoriam FP on Medvedev
   
Week XIII:  
11/11 Theocracy: Iran Almond, Chapter 16
11/13 Theocracy: Iran Almond, Chapter 16
   
   
Week XIV:  
11/18Authoritarianism with economic capitalization: China Almond, Chapter 13
11/20 Authoritarianism with economic capitalization: China Almond, Chapter 13
   
Week XV:  
11/25 Authoritarianism to Democracy: Nigeria Almond, Chapter 18
11/27 Authoritarianism to Democracy: Nigeria Almond, Chapter 18
   
Week XVI:  
12/2 Last Day of Class  
   
Final Exam Schedule: 

Thursday December 11th
3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Course Policies:

Grading:  All grades earned by students are assigned on a ten point scale (see above).  Because I am unable to award A+ to truly outstanding students I do not use the +/- system of grading.   

Midterm Examination: The mid-semester exam will cover the introductory material that directly pertains to comparative politics as a sub-field in political science.  This means you will be examined on comparative theories, comparative method, definitions and concepts of comparison as well as your general understanding of the subfield and its importance as it relates to the broader discipline of political science.  

Paper Assignments: There are two papers required for this course.  Each paper will be a research effort focused on outlining and detailing one current political problem (with projections) of one country for the class.  Papers will be evaluated based on original content (evidence that you have done your own research), the importance of the topic selected, the thoroughness of your research and finally for grammar and wording. Papers are due on September 18th and on October 23rd..

Final Exam:  The final examination will be a comprehensive overview of the semester.  This exam will ask students to incorporate the concepts and country information from the semester into the comparative framework.  For example, students should feel comfortable with definitions of comparison, its importance as well as theoretical approaches to understanding comparative processes such as "development".  Students who have not purchased the text or not read the text will find it exceptionally difficult to do well on the final examination.  

Grading Scale:  
90-100 = A  
80-89     = B  
70-79     = C  
60-69  = D  
59 <  = F  

Evaluation/Grading:  Students will be evaluated based on their demonstrated ability to articulate the use of core concepts and theories as well as their grasp of descriptive country specific information.  The exams are worth 100 points each.  The papers are worth 50 points each.  There are a total of 300 points available in this course.  Each individual assignment is graded on the ten point scale, students' cumulative points are added and the final grade is calculated based on the total course ten point scale. I do not email grades.  Show up and get your papers and exams from me.  I will use the +/- system to give you an idea of where you are in the ten point range listed above but I do NOT use the +/- system when awarding final grades (see above).  

 

Other Course Policies

Academic Dishonesty: Cheaters will be graded "F" for the course.

Attendance Policy:  My expectation of students is that there are no excuses for failure to attend class.  This is especially poor behavior at a taxpayer subsidized University. Students who do not attend can expect to do poorly as a direct consequence of missing out on the additional instruction brought to you beyond your text by ME.  Conversely, students who attend but spend their time in class not paying attention will also find that their course average is negatively impacted.

Electronic Devices In-Class Use policy:  All electronic devices should be off.  There is no emergency or other type of communication from others to you and vice versa during the 75 minutes we are in class.  Laptops may be used only if you are typing notes.  Inappropriate use of electronic devices in class will be penalized by a letter grade reduction in your overall course grade.

Exam Policy:  Exam format is short definition and short essay.  There will be no make-up exams for this course.  In particular students should avoid the myriad of personal behaviors which inevitably lead to conflicts with the University's operating schedule and the course syllabus schedule.  Class is in session as scheduled when the University is in session.  Any and all in-class material such as videos, readings, lectures, PowerPoint outlines, news items will be covered on the exams.

Late assignments/submission of assignments: Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade for every day they are late starting at class time on the due date stated on the syllabus.  Assignments cannot be handed in via email.

Students with Disabilities- If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me immediately.  Please bring your Disability Services documentation.