This course attempts to provide the student with a general understanding of the different concepts and manifestations of politics in a comparative and global context.  A major goal is to provide the student with the necessary tools to analyze comparative politics from theoretical and practical perspectives.  Priority is given to conceptualization of different phenomena and to the analysis of political entities.  Critical thinking and comparative analysis will be applied to achieve a clear understanding of comparative politics.

The first part of this course covers the different concepts of comparative political analysis, while the second part compares and contrasts different political systems in a global context.  The course analyses political institutions, functions, and entities; discussing reasons, and methods.  Political culture, interest articulation, and political socialization are treated.  Emphasis will be placed on the issues of policymaking, government, elections, and political parties.  The course provides a comparative analysis of different states’ political systems, including United Kingdom, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, India, Mexico, and Nigeria.  The class format will include lectures, discussion, presentations, and audiovisual materials.  The students will be asked to do a small research project, utilizing information technology.

Students will learn how to critically analyze processes and concepts related to different political systems.  They will be able to relate government, politics, and players within the political arena and society.  Students will learn to contextualize and explain the process of government and politics with current international events.  Students will be capable of critical analysis applied to the changing realities of different political systems in a global context.  Students will develop an ability to conduct basic research, and organize and present their findings in a logical and independent way.

Course requirements: 

Two in-class Exams (midterm exam and final exam).

A Final Paper (with Proposal and Portfolio).

A Presentation.

Regular attendance and participation in class. 

Exams:  Midterm and final exams have the same format.  The exam has two parts of equal value.  The first part is an essay, the student will choose one theme out of three proposed, and will write a well organized essay.  The second part of the exam is made of ten terms to be concisely defined. 

Final paper:  The final paper (3.000 words) will be on any topic of the student’s choice related to the class program.  The topic should be precisely defined and worthy of investigation.  Portfolio:  In order to produce their final papers, students will keep a portfolio of research materials during the semester.  The portfolio will be shared with, and evaluated by the instructor.  The production of the final paper is a work in progress during the semester.  The portfolio and the paper project are progressive steps toward completion of the final paper.

A:  Work 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.

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

Program:

Unit    1                  Introduction.  Methodology.  Definitions.  Comparative Political Analysis.  Issues in Comparative Politics.

(Jan. 16, 18)                                                                                                                      (Mahler, p. 1 - 21;  Almond, p. 1 - 21;  assigned readings)

Unit    2                  Constitutions and Ideologies.  The Separation of Power.  Classification of Regimes.  Fostering Development. 

(Jan. 23, 25)                                                                                                                  (Mahler, p. 22 - 41;  Almond, p. 21 - 38;  assigned readings)

Unit    3                  Political and Economic Development.  Economic Nationalism.  Globalization.  Environment, interdependence.

(Jan. 30, Feb. 1, 3)                                                                                                        (Mahler, p. 42 - 72;  Almond, p. 39 - 46;  assigned readings)

Unit    4                  Legislatures and Legislative Structures.  Political Parties.  The Legislative Process.  The Policy Level.

(Feb. 6, 8)                                                                                                                   (Mahler, p. 73 - 103;  Almond, p. 46 - 55;  assigned readings)

Unit    5                  The Executive.  Coalition Governments.  Public Administration and  Bureaucracy.  Political Culture. 

(Feb. 13, 15)                                                                                                             (Mahler, p. 104 - 130;  Almond, p. 56 - 66;  assigned readings)

Unit    6                  Judiciaries and the Legal Order.  Legal Cultures.  Judicial Functions.  Agents of Political Socialization.

(Feb. 20, 22)                                                                                                              (Mahler, p. 131 - 148;  Almond, p. 66 - 77; assigned readings)

Unit    7                  Interest Groups and Political Parties.  Pluralism and Corporatism.  Electoral Systems.  Political Participation.

(Feb. 28,  29*)                                                                                                           (Mahler, p. 149 - 169;  Almond, p. 78 - 90; assigned readings)

                               * MIDTERM EXAM

Unit    8                  The Individual and the Political Environment.  The Political Elite.  The Military.  Interest Articulation.

(Mar. 5, 7, 9)                                                                                                            (Mahler, p. 170 - 191;  Almond, p. 90 - 101; assigned readings)

Unit    9                  The British Political System.  The Civil Service.  Political Parties and Voting.  Interest Aggregation.

(Mar. 12, 14)                                                                                                         (Mahler, p. 192 - 225;  Almond, p. 102 - 115;  assigned readings)

Unit  10                  The French Political System.  Unitary Government.  The Constitutional Council.  Trends in Interest Aggregation.

(Mar. 26, 28*)                                                                                                       (Mahler, p. 226 - 256;  Almond, p. 115 - 126;  assigned readings)

* PROJECT  PROPOSAL

Unit  11                  The German Political System.  Federalism.  Executive Structures.  Government and Policymaking.

(Apr. 2, 4)                                                                                                             (Mahler, p. 257 - 281;  Almond, p. 127 - 141;  assigned readings)

Unit  12                 The Russian Political System.  Ideology.  Political Goods and Values.  Political Succession, Russian Style. 

(Apr. 9, 11)                                                                                                             (Mahler, p. 359 - 382;  Almond, p. 186 - 198; assigned readings)

Unit  13                  The Japanese Political System.  The Diet.  The Indian Political System.  Religion, Caste, Federalism. 

(Apr. 16, 18)                                                                                         (Mahler, p. 282 – 308, 383-405;   Almond, p. 141 - 163; assigned readings)

Unit  14                  The Mexican Political System.  The Presidency.  The Nigerian Political System.  National Integration.

(Apr. 23*)                                                                                                              (Mahler, p. 308 - 358;  Almond, p. 164 - 186; assigned readings)

                               *  FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT  * PORTFOLIO 

(Apr. 30 - May 6,  tba*)    * FINAL EXAM