Chabot College
Fall 2010
Course Outline for Political Science 20
COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Catalog Description:
20 - Comparative Politics
3 units
Introduces basic concepts and methods of comparative analysis. Covers contemporary
forms of governments and institutions; survey of political regimes and political problems of
selected governments. Strongly Recommended: Eligibility for English 1A and Political
Science 1. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon the completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
identify and analyze multiple contemporary forms of government;
2.
compare and contrast democracies with transitional democracies and nondemocratic governments;
3.
compare and contrast contemporary governmental institutions, structures of
government, and the historical/cultural context in which they developed;
4.
demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts and methods of comparative analysis;
5.
understand factors that influence political regime choices and governance around the
world;
6.
demonstrate knowledge of patterns of regime change;
7.
define the terms politics, government, power, state, and nationalism;
8.
interpret political events in the framework of governmental structures and processes;
9.
compare and contrast the political systems of selected countries including executive,
legislative, and judicial processes;
10.
analyze, discuss, and describe political culture and socialization with respect to
governmental structures and processes in selected countries;
11.
identify, describe, and analyze the role of political parties, interest groups, civil
society groups, non-governmental organizations, and military organizations of
selected countries;
12.
identify, describe, and analyze the foreign policy approaches of selected countries;
13.
identify, describe, and analyze public policy and policy making processes of selected
countries.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The development of the state system and fundamental characteristics and functions
of states
The development of the state system and fundamental characteristics and functions
of states
Election structures and electoral representation (ex: proportional, majoritarian)
Political systems (ex: presidential, parliamentary, federalism)
The welfare state
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 20, Page 2
Fall 2010
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Concepts and methodology in comparative studies
Political administration and bureaucracy
Democratization (ex: definitions, transition paths, processes of democratization)
Development and dependency (ex: economies in transition, modernization theory)
Social movements, globalization, interrelations between national and international
politics
Political culture and socialization processes, as well as the formation and
perpetuation of national ideologies
Case study evaluations of selected governments, their contemporary political
systems, and historical development
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Lecture
Discussion
Small group activities
Role playing simulations
Presentations
Audio visual materials
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical Assignments:
a.
Develop and present (individually or in a group) a comprehensive depiction
of a country’s unique historical political development and contemporary
political institutions and culture
b.
Research and produce a written report comparing and contrasting two or
more political systems
c.
Write an analysis of a contemporary topic in comparative politics (i.e. causes
of and solutions to underdevelopment)
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a.
Quizzes
b.
Midterm examinations
c.
Group/individual oral presentations
d.
Written reports, research papers or research projects
e.
Map tests
f.
Class participation
g.
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Principles of Comparative Politics, William Roberts Clark, Matt Golder, and Sona
Nadenichek Golder, CQ Press, 2008.
Comparative Politics Today: A World View (9th Edition), Almond et al., Longman, 2007.
Comparative Politics: An Institutional and Cross-National Approach (5th Edition),
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 20, Page 3
Fall 2010
Gregory S. Mahler, Prentice Hall, 2007.
Special Student Materials:
None