Introduction to Comparative Politics
Political Science 230-001 and 230-002
Fall Semester 2009

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Horan                                                                        
Office: Leutze Hall 261
Phone: 962-7929
Office Hours: MW 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. and by appointment.
Class Location and Time: Dobo 202; MW 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.

This course has three goals:

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 four exams.
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.  All exams are based on a combination of lecture notes and material from the text. 
Week I:    

8/19 Introduction                   

Almond Chapter 1

   

Week II:           

 
8/24 Issues & Concepts in Comparative Politics   Almond Chapter 1
8/26 Issues & Concepts in Comparative Politics Almond Chapter 1
   
Week III:  

8/31 Comparing Political Systems

 Almond Chapter 2  
9/2 Comparing Political Systems Almond Chapter 2  
   
Week IV:  
9/7 Labor Day - No Class Almond Chapter 3
9/9 Political Culture and Political Socialization    Almond Chapter 3
   
Week V:    
9/14 Civic Culture and Other theoretical approaches Almond Chapter 3
9/16 Interest Articulation and Aggregation Almond Chapters 4 & 5
   
Week VI:  
9/21 Interest Aggregation & Political Parties Almond Chapters 4 & 5 Khomeini's children: imprisoned youth?
9/23 Exam One Chapters 1-4  
   
Week VII:  
9/28 Government & Policymaking Almond Chapter 6
9/30  Public Policy Almond Chapter 7
   
Week VIII:  
10/5 Fall Break - No Class  
10/7 Political Science Days - mandatory attendance at one event  
Week IX:  
10/12 Western Democracy: Great Britain Almond, Chapter 8
10/14  Western Democracy: France Almond, Chapter 9
Burka - more
Week X:  
10/19 Exam two Chapters 5-8  
10/21 Western Democracy: France

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/france/

Almond, Chapter 9
   
   
Week XI:  
10/26  Democracy and Latin America: Mexico Almond, Chapter 14
Chiapas Video
10/28 Democracy and Latin America: Brazil Almond, Chapter 15
   
Week XII:  
11/2 Communism to Democracy: Russia Almond, Chapter 12
11/4 Democratic facade to regional authoritarianism: Russia Chechnya Video - In Class discussion
 Interview with Ana Politkovskaya in Memoriam FP on Medvedev
   
Week XIII:  
11/9 Theocracy: Iran Almond, Chapter 16
11/11 Exam 3 Chapters 9, 12, 14, 15  
   
   
Week XIV:  
11/16Authoritarianism with economic capitalization: China Almond, Chapter 13
11/18 Authoritarianism with economic capitalization: China Almond, Chapter 13
   
Week XV:  
11/23 Authoritarianism to Democracy: Nigeria's Struggle Almond, Chapter 18
11/25 Thanksgiving Break - No Class  
   
Week XVI:  
11/30 Authoritarianism to Democracy: Nigeria Almond, Chapter 18
12/2 Last Day of Class - Cumulative Make-up Exam  
Final Exam Schedule 

Cumulative Final Exam:
Wednesday December 9, 2009
3:00-6:00 p.m.

 

Course Policies:

Examination and Grading:  All completed assignments are graded on a ten point scale.  Because I am unable to award A+ to truly outstanding students I do not use the +/- system of grading.  Assignments that are not handed in will earn zero points.  Exams that are incomplete will be evaluated based on the material the student completed.  Missing questions will be assigned zero points.  Exam format is multiple choice. Any and all in-class material such as videos, readings, lectures, PowerPoint outlines, and news items will be covered on the exams.

Grading is as follows:                                    

Exam one       60 pts.                      
Exam two       60 pts.                         
Exam three     60 pts.                         
Final Exam    120 pts.
Total              300 pts.  

Grading Scale:  

A=270-300 pts
B=269-240 pts.
C=239-210 pts.
D=209-180 pts
F=179 & below.

No exams will be given early or late for any reason.

One and only one makeup will be given for this course.  Students who miss the in-semester exam, for whatever reason, must take the makeup.  The makeup will be comprehensive, covering the material of the course to exam three.  (Studying for the makeup will help a great deal in preparing for the final).  Students missing both the in-semester exam and the make-up will be unable to complete the course.  Therefore, since you, your girl/boyfriend may be ill or have a dead battery, or have a dead, sick pet, for the exam, or all your grandparents may die at the same time, you should plan accordingly.  As an added incentive, anyone who has taken the in-semester exam will be allowed to take the makeup and drop their grade on the previous exam (if it is lower than the makeup exam).  All students must take the cumulative final exam which cannot be made up.


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 attend but spend their time in class not paying attention will also find that their course average is negatively impacted (in the past four semesters increasing numbers of students have failed this course because texting, playing computer games and updating facebook during lecture turn out to be impediments to learning).  FAIR WARNING: I find this in class behavior irritating and you will not like it when I deal with you in class.

Electronic Devices In-Class Use policy:  As a consequence of this increasing fail rate I have instituted a no electronic device in class policy.  All electronic devices should be off at all times.  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 (or I will confiscate it).  Inappropriate use of electronic devices in class will be penalized by a letter grade reduction in your overall course grade.

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.