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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 101-2"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Political Science"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2021
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Eszter Salgo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 3:00-4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course introduces students to basic concepts, methods, and theories of the scientific study of politics. In so doing, the class provides a systematic understanding of the foundations of government, political systems, and political behavior. The course familiarizes students with the functioning of political institutions and political power, constitutional frameworks and procedures to obtain public legitimacy, and approaches to different fields, problems and issues of—domestic, comparative, and global—politics in the 21st century.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end, those students who complete the course successfully will be able to understand and think critically about the core topics (political regimes, the social bases of politics, public policies and administration, political communication, political participation, political parties, interests groups, global politics, etc.), the methodological foundations of and the current issues in political science.

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Political Science: A Global PerspectiveMorlinoSage1412962137     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participationStudents should participate actively in the discussions that will take place both in the classroom and online.10%
Oral presentationStudents will conduct a research project in pairs and present their case studies on a political dilemma in an 8-minute-long (and video-recorded) presentation on November 9.15%
Term paperEach student will submit individually a 1000-word (plus bibliography) research paper about the same topic on Moodle by November 23.25 %
Midterm examThe midterm exam (October 19) will consist of two essay questions. Students are graded on accuracy, depth of analysis, logical content, creative thinking, on their ability to formulate a sophisticated argument, provide evidence for their statements, discuss and show understanding of alternative explanations.15%
Final examThe final exam is cumulative; it will consist of three essay questions.35%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

The course introduces students to basic concepts, methods, and theories of the scientific study of politics. In so doing, the class provides a systematic understanding of the foundations of government, political systems, and political behavior. The course familiarizes students with the functioning of political institutions and political power, constitutional frameworks and procedures to obtain public legitimacy, and approaches to different fields, problems and issues of—domestic, comparative, and global—politics in the 21st century.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week I

Class 1: Introduction

Class 2: Issues in political science. Analysis of a verbal source.

Assignment: Each student will choose and comment on an article/official document/post relating to any political issue

Week II

Class 3: Issues in political science. Analysis of a visual source.

Assignment: Each student will choose and comment on the political dimension of a visual source (image, video, film, artifact, etc.).

Class 4: Origins and definitions

Reading: Textbook, Introduction   

Week III

Class 5: Epistemological and methodological foundations and approaches

Reading: Textbook, pp. 15-20 and L. Raeder (2007) Voegelin on Gnosticism, Modernity and the Balance of Consciousness, The Political Science Reviewer

Class 6: Relationship with neighboring disciplines

Reading: Textbook, Chapter 3

Class 7: Visual culture studies and political science

Reading: Bleiker (2019) Visual Global Politics, Introduction

Week IV

Class 8: The social basis of politics

Reading: Textbook, Chapter 4

Class 9: History of the Discipline: Positivism and Its Critique

Reading: 21st Century Political Science: A Reference Handbook

Week V

Class 10: History of the Discipline: Positivism and Its Critique

Reading: 21st Century Political Science: A Reference Handbook

Class 11: Democracies

Reading: Textbook Chapter 5

Week VI

Class 12: Democratization

Reading: Textbook Chapter 6

Class 13: Politics of fear

Lecture by Frank Furedi, October 6, 11:30-12:45, Guarini campus, Secchia terrace

October 7, 3:00-4:15 – Democratization Cont

 Week VII

Class 14: Non-democratic regimes

Reading: Textbook Chapter 7

Class 15: Review

Week VIII

Class 16 Midterm exam

Class 17: Government, parliament, judiciary

Reading: Textbook Chapter 8

Week IX

Class 18: Public policies and public administration 

Reading: Textbook Chapter 9

Class 19: Political parties

Reading: Textbook Chapter 13

Week X

Class 20: Political communication and media

Reading: Textbook Chapter 11

Class 21: Political participation, social movements, protests revolutions

Reading: Textbook Chapter 10

Week XI

Class 22: Oral presentations

Class 23: Oral Presentations

Week XII

Class 23: The globalization of international politics

Reading: Textbook Chapter 15

Class 24: International organizations and regionalism

Reading: Textbook Chapter 16

Week XIII

Class 25: The Role of the EU on the global stage

Reading: Lehne (2020) Securing the EU's Place in the World, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Class 26: HOLIDAY

Week XIV

Class 27: A new era after Covid-19?

Reading: der Spiegel (2020) The dawn of a new era: a paradigm shift accelerated by the Coronavirus and BBC (2021) What is the Great Reset - and how did it get hijacked by conspiracy theories? and F. Fukuuyama (2021) The pandemic and political order: it takes a state, "Foreign Affairs"

Class 28: Review