COMPARATIVE POLITICS ● SPRING 2012
Tuesdays, Thursdays in Jubilee Hall 119 & 120
Professor Alexandra Hennessy
519 Jubilee Hall
Phone: (973) 761-5393
Email: alexandra.hennessy@shu.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays 9:00 - 9:40 am, 11:45 am - 12:45 p.m.
Course description
This class is an introduction to the study of politics in cross-national perspective. It is organized around
three big puzzles in the real world that call for some kind of explanation: why are some regimes
democratic while others are not; how can citizens control public policies; and why do the same political
structures perform diverse functions in different countries. We explain phenomena such as the
transition to democracy, levels of social inequality, voting behavior, and outbursts of political unrest as
consequences of institutions, economic interests, culture, and human choices. We will evaluate theories
of comparative politics, both through theoretical readings and by seeing how they play out in
established democracies (Germany, Britain, France), multi-level polities (the European Union),
communist and post-communist/ authoritarian countries (China, Russia) and in the Middle East (Iraq,
Iran, Egypt).
Required Readings
1) Books (available in the book store):
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Patrick H. O’Neil and Ronald Rogowsi (2010), Essential Readings in Comparative Politics. Second
Edition. (hereinafter ONR).
Charles Hauss (2009), Comparative Politics. Domestic Responses to Global Challenges. 7th
Edition. (hereinafter Hauss).
Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein (2006), They Say, I Say. The moves that matter in academic
writing.
2) Newspapers
I recommend that you read the international sections of at least one of the following newspapers: the
New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Financial Times, the Economist. These newspapers will
serve as the basis for current events class discussions. You may read newspapers on the web
(nytimes.com, csmonitor.com, ft.com, economist.com) or have the papers delivered to your
dorm/home. Because our discussions will aim to apply concepts and theories to the international news,
it is important not to fall behind on world events.
3) Other required readings are available on blackboard or will be distributed in class.
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Course requirements
1. Pop-quizzes
A series of unannounced quizzes or homework assignments on the day’s assigned readings;
approximately 8-9 quizzes altogether. Students will be allowed to drop one (1) quiz score.
2. Midterm exam
The midterm will consist of identification questions, an essay, and you will have to attribute quotes to
authors. If you miss the midterm exam, you must make it up within one week. Failure to take the
midterm exam within the specified period will result in a failing grade for the entire class, not just this
assignment.
3. Final paper
Instructions for the paper will be handed out the first week of class. The paper must be uploaded to
SafeAssign (blackboard) on or before the due date. Papers not uploaded to SafeAssign will not be
accepted. Any paper turned in after its deadline will be marked down each day by which it is late (B
becomes B- after one day, C+ after two days, F after three days).
4. Group presentation
Early in the semester you will be divided into groups. These groups will be responsible for running the
class discussion. Excellent presenters will not just summarize the readings, but criticize the argument,
apply theoretical concepts to real world (current) events, and inspire the class to discuss interesting
questions. On the day your group is to present, the participants should arrive a few minutes early to set
up their power point slides. The slides will be made available for the whole class on blackboard.
Presenters should speak for about 25 minutes and allow approximately 10 minutes for class discussion.
You must be in class to deliver your presentation; no make-ups allowed. Failure to show up for the
group presentation will result in a failing grade for the entire class, not just the presentation.
5. Contributions to in-class dialogue
Students are expected to attend all class sessions and read the assigned articles before class. Your
participation grade is a function of contributions to class discussions. This means that students who
always attend but never contribute to in-class dialogue will not receive a high participation grade.
Students are strongly encouraged to raise questions as they occur to them. If you are puzzled or unsure
about something, chances are that other members of the class are, too! Asking questions is a crucial and
essential feature of a good class. If you already knew the answers, you wouldn’t need to take the class.
Asking questions is not an admission of ignorance, it is an attack on it!
Grading
Quizzes, homework assignments: 35%
Midterm exam: 25%
Paper: 20%
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Group presentation: 10%
Class participation: 10%
Paper grades
A
Distinguished Work. Distinguished work requires a demonstrated mastery of course concepts
with some original analysis. The paper is error free (proper punctuation, spelling, grammar,
sentence structure), and demonstrates logical organization, proper documentation and
appropriate supporting evidence.
B
Superior Work. Written work evidences a thorough review and mastery of course materials and
appropriate critical analysis. The paper is error free (proper punctuation, spelling, grammar,
sentence structure), and demonstrates logical organization, proper documentation and
appropriate supporting evidence.
C
Average Work. The student satisfies requirements appropriate to the grade level, demonstrating
minimum mastery of material with limited integration, application, and analysis. The paper
contains punctuation, spelling, or grammatical errors.
D
Unsatisfactory work. The student satisfies some minimum requirements, but does not display
adequate mastery of the material. The paper contains excessive errors.
F
Failure. The student does not meet minimum requirements.
Attendance
Absences are excused when there is, in my judgment, a valid reason. If you are ill, you will need a
medical professional’s written excuse for two or more consecutive absences. If you are absent because
of a University approved function, you will need a written statement. Merely informing me of your
absence does not make it excused. Please note that students excessively absent will be required to
withdraw from the course without credit. Absences will measurably affect your grade. If you miss a
class, you are responsible for the material we covered during that class. This is the case no matter the
reason for the absence.
Accommodation
If you have a special needs accommodation, please obtain the necessary documents as soon as possible
to secure any necessary assistance. Please understand that I am neither qualified nor allowed to make
these decisions unilaterally.
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Academic honesty
Anyone who plagiarizes or cheats in any way in this class will fail the entire class and be reported to the
appropriate authorities for further disciplinary action. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with
Seton Hall University’s guidelines regarding plagiarism and cheating.
Class Etiquette
Cell phones, smartphones must be turned off during class. Neither laptops nor tablet computers (e.g.
ipads, kindles) are permitted in class.
Course Plan
Please note: This class schedule is subject to change. Changes will be announced in class or via email.
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of any changes to the class schedule or content.
Theories in Comparative Politics: Democracy & Authoritarianism
Tue 1/17: Introduction to the course.
Th 1/19: Lichbach & Zuckerman, Research traditions and theory in comparative politics (ONR). Henry
Teune, The Logic of Comparative Social Inquiry (blackboard).
Tue 1/24: Philippe Schmitter and Terry Karl, What democracy is… and is not (ONR); Anthony Downs, An
Economic Theory of Democracy (blackboard).
Th 1/26: Robert Putnam, Tuning in, tuning out: the strange disappearance of social capital in America;
Bryan Caplan, The myth of rational voter: why democracies choose bad policies (both in ONR).
Tue 1/31: Larry Diamond, The Resurgence of the Predatory State (ONR); Arendt Lijphart, Constitutional
choices for new democracies (both in ONR).
Th 2/2: Samantha Power, Never Again: The world’s most unfulfilled promise (blackboard).
Tue 2/7: Knut Borchardt, Constraints and room for maneuver in the great depression of the early
thirties: towards a revision of the received historical picture (blackboard).
Advanced Industrial Democracies
Th 2/9: Germany (in Hauss). Also: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg talk (6 pm Jubilee Hall Auditorium).
Tue 2/14: Germany (in Hauss).
Th 2/16: France (in Hauss).
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Tue 2/21: France (in Hauss).
Th 2/23: Britain (in Hauss).
Tue 2/28: Britain (in Hauss).
Th 3/1: The European Union (in Hauss).
Tue 3/6: The European Union (blackboard).
Th 3/8: Midterm exam
March 12-17 spring recess, no classes
Post-communist/ authoritarian regimes
Tue 3/20: Russia (in Hauss).
Th 3/22: Russia (in Hauss).
Tue 3/27: China (in Hauss).
Th 3/29: China (in Hauss).
The Islamic world
Tue 4/3: Fareed Zakaria, Islam, Democracy and Constitutional Liberalism; Sheri Berman, Islamism,
Revolution, and Civil Society (both in ONR).
Th 4/5: Holy Thursday – no class
Tue 4/10: Steven Fish, Islam and Authoritarianism; Michael Ross, Oil, Islam and Women (both on
blackboard).
Th 4/12: Short presentations of student paper ideas.
Tue 4/17: Iran (in Hauss)
Th 4/19: Iran (in Hauss)
Tue 4/24: Iraq (whole chapter, in Hauss)
Th 4/26: Nagl and Burton, the Way Forward in Iraq (blackboard).
Tue 5/1: Graff and Birkenstein, They Say/ I Say. The moves that matter in academic writing.
Th 5/3: Conclusion, wrap-up.
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Final papers are due on Friday, 5/11 at 10 am. Please upload the paper to SafeAssign on or before the
due date AND slide a hard copy under my office door (519 Jubilee Hall).
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