Introduction to Comparative Government
Eastern Michigan University
Fall 2015
Political Science 211
T/Th 12:30-1:45 p.m., 117 Marshal
Professor Ebrahim K. Soltani
602E Pray-Harrold
ekhalife@emich.edu
Office Hours: T/Th 8:30-9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Course Description
In the past few decades, the world has experienced an important transformation.
Modernization, democratization, and globalization are considered among the most
important forces behind this fundamental transformation. A key factor in these changes is
the government structure, which is the main focus of this course. Comparative politics, as
a subfield of political science, examines different government structures and institutions
in a comparative fashion. Comparative politics is an attempt to answer difficult and
interesting comparative questions such as: Why are some countries democratic and others
not? Why do countries have different institutions and forms of government? Why do
some countries develop strong sense of statehood and nationhood and others not? Why
do countries go to war or establish peace?
This course is an introduction to the comparative politics and designed to be accessible to
students with no prior knowledge of political science, in general, and comparative
politics, in particular. Students will examine key theoretical concepts, comparative
methods, and political systems. By the end of the semester, you will have a deeper
understanding of comparative political analysis, institutions of different types of
government, the comparative international nexus, and some of the main international
political challenges.
Course Requirements
Attendance: You are expected to attend each class and arrive on time. Attendance is
essential for success in this class and is mandatory. Lectures will critically reinforce and
supplement readings. I take attendance at the beginning of each class. If you miss a class
session, then your final grade will be penalized. However, this penalty will be waived, if
you write an adequate one page response to the assigned reading for the class session you
missed and submit this response by the next class session.
Please take note of these policies:
 Turn off your Cell Phones. The professor reserves the right to ask students whose
cell phones ring or who are texting to leave the class.
 Laptops may only be used in class for note taking.
 The professor reserves the right to not admit students coming late to the class.
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Participation: You are expected to read all of the materials assigned for this course. I
intend to devote a significant portion of class time to discussing the assigned texts, and
expect active participation from all students. This includes listening carefully to other
students when they are speaking.
Mid-term Exam: There will be an in-class midterm exam on October 20.
Group Presentation: In order to expand your knowledge of specific countries and to
practice applying comparative methods, you will work in groups of 2 students to prepare
and deliver a short (15-20 minutes) presentation that explores one of the course key
concepts within the context of at least 2 countries. For example, if you are interested in
democratization, you might compare different processes of democratization in two
different contexts/countries. The presentations will be given during the final six class
meetings.
Short Essays: You are expected to write two 3-4 pages (1050-1400 words) essays about
the main themes examined in the course. The choice of subject for the essays should be
first discussed in individual discussions with the instructor. The first short essay is due on
October 27 and the second one is due on December 10. Further guidelines on how to
write an academic essay will be provided in class.
Final Exam: You will have a final exam on December 15 (Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.).

Late work will be reduced one letter grade per day, and missed exams or quizzes
will receive a zero, unless there is a legitimate documented excuse. It is your
responsibility to notify me before the assignment due date or scheduled date of
the exam.
Grading Criteria
Assignment
Attendance
Participation
Midterm Exam
First Short Essay
Group Presentation
Second Short Essay
Final Exam
When
All the time
All the time
October 20
October 27
Final Six Classes
December 10
December 15
Percentage
10%
10%
20%
10%
10%
15%
25%
Required Texts
It is essential that you complete all assigned readings before the class period for which
they are assigned. The two required texts for the course are listed below and are available
at any of the bookstores that serve the EMU campus, or through online booksellers:
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1. Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases, J. Tyler Dickovick,
Jonathan Eastwood, 2013, Oxford University Press.
2. Current Debates in Comparative Politics, J. Tyler Dickovick, Jonathan Eastwood,
2015, Oxford University Press.
Academic Dishonesty
The EMU Code of Student Conduct forbids plagiarism. Students should be familiar with
the Code: http://www.emich.edu/policies/policy.php?id=124. Any assignment that is
plagiarized will receive a score of zero, and may be referred to the EMU Office of
Student Conduct. Similarly, cheating on exams is forbidden and will also result in a zero
score on the exam. For more detailed information on what plagiarism is and how to avoid
it, see: http://www.emich.edu/library/help/integratingsources.php
Topics and Assignments
Introduction
T Sep 8
 Syllabus
 Introduction: Politics? Political Science? Comparative Politics?
Comparative Political Analysis
Th Sep 10
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 1
 Current Debates, Section 1
T Sep 15
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 2
 Current Debates, Section 2
The Modern State
Th Sep 17 & T Sep 22
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 3
 Current Debates, Section 3
 Case Studies: Spain, Mexico
Development and Political Economy
Th Sep 24 & T Sep 29
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 4
 Current Debates, Section 4
 Case Studies: Japan, North Korea, South Korea,
Democracy and Democratization
Th Oct 1 & T Oct 6
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 5
 Current Debates, Section 5
 Case Studies: United States, United Kingdom, Brazil
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Authoritarian Regimes and Democratic Breakdown
Th Oct 8 & T Oct 13
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 6
 Current Debates, Section 6
 Case Studies: France, Iran
Th Oct 15
 REVIEW SESSION
T Oct 20
 MID-TERM EXAM
Constitutions and Constitutional Design
Th Oct 22
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 7
 Current Debates, Section 7
 Case Studies: United States, South Africa
Legislatures and Legislative Elections
T Oct 27
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 8
 Current Debates, Section 8
 Case Studies: Germany, Russia
 FIRST SHORT ESSAY IS DUE.
Executives
Th Oct 29
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 9
 Current Debates, Section 9
 Case Studies: China, United Kingdom
Political Parties, Party Systems
T Nov 3
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 10
 Current Debates, Section 10
 Case Studies: China, Germany
Revolutions and Contention
Th Nov 5 & T Nov 10
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 11
 Current Debates, Section 11
 Case Studies: Iran, India
Nationalism and National Identity
Th Nov 12 & T Nov 17
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 12
 Current Debates, Section 12
 Case Studies: Germany, Japan
 GROUP PRESENTATIONS START
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Race, Ethnicity, and Gender
Th Nov 19
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 13
 Current Debates, Section 13
 Case Studies: United States, India
T Nov 24
 NO CLASS (Professor attends AMUN Conference)
Th Nov 26
 NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Recess)
Ideology and religion in Modern Politics
T Dec 1 & Th Dec 3
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 14
 Current Debates, Section 14
 Case Studies: Iran, United States
Comparative Politics and International Relations
T Dec 8
 Comparative Politics, Chapter 15
 Current Debates, Section 15
Th Dec 10
 REVIEW SESSION
 SECOND SHORT ESSAY IS DUE.
T Dec 15
 FINAL EXAM 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
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