Schedule (NOTE: the two books above are written in parallel with identical chapter/section names but complementary content. Every chapter name on the schedule below refers to BOTH sets of readings):
Week 1 – Introducing the field and major concepts
Session 1, Chapter 1: The Comparative Approach: An Introduction
Session 2, Chapter 2: Theories, Hypotheses, and Evidence
Session 3, Chapter 3: The State
Session 4, Chapter 4: Political Economy
Week 2 – Development, Democracy, and Authoritarianism
Session 5, Chapter 5: Development
Session 6, Chapter 6: Democracy and Democratization
Session 7, Chapter 7: Authoritarian Regimes and Democratic Breakdown
Session 8, Chapter 8: Constitutions and Constitutional Design
Week 3 – Political Institutions
Session 9, Chapter 9: Legislatures and Legislative Elections
Session 10, Chapter 10: Executives
Session 11, Chapter 11: Political Parties, Party Systems, and Interest Groups
Session 12, Chapter 12: Revolutions and Contention
Week 4 – Politics, Society, and Culture
Session 13, Chapter 13: Nationalism and National Identity
Session 14, Chapter 14: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender
Session 15, Chapter 15: Ideology and Religion in Modern Politics
Session 16, Chapter 16: Comparative Politics and International Relations
Week 5 - Italian Politics in Comparative Perspective
Sessions 17 - 20. During this week we focus on research questions in the comparative politics of Italy. Students may examine questions about Italian state formation, unitarist politics, coalition governments and the electoral system, recent populist movements, and other themes, always drawing on the theories, methods, and cases discussed in the first 4 weeks of the course. Class will combine discussion with intensive workshopping.