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Government 103
Introduction to Comparative and International Politics
Spring 2016
GO 103 Section 002 MWF 9:05-10:00 Ladd 307
GO 103 Section 001 MWF 10:10-11:05 Ladd 307
**NOTE WELL: Due to space constraints, and issues of basic fairness, YOU MUST
ATTEND the section of GO 103 that you are signed up for. That is, those of you who are
signed up for the 9:05 section (002) MAY NOT attend the 10:10 section. THIS IS
ALSO TRUE FOR THE FINAL EXAMS—YOU MUST ATTEND THE EXAM
SCHEDULED FOR YOUR SECTION OF GO 103
Instructor: Professor Kate Graney
Office: Ladd 309, x5242
Email: kgraney@skidmore.edu
OFFICE HOURS: TH 10-12, BY APPT
Course Description and Goals:
This course serves as an introduction to two of the most important and interesting subfields of political science-- comparative politics and international relations. By the
end of the course, I hope you will have gained:
*a better sense of what the study of political science and government at the
college level is like, of what types of questions in political science interest you the most,
and about what other classes and research projects you might like to pursue in the future
in the Government Department at Skidmore
*a deeper understanding of the different political ideologies and ideas, structures
and systems, and policies and practices that animate the political practices of states and
peoples around the world
*a clear understanding of what theories and methods political scientists use to
evaluate political developments in comparative politics and international relations
*more proficiency in reading and analyzing complex texts, constructing
persuasive arguments, and writing fluid, grammatically-correct and engaging prose
*the ability to approach media coverage of “world politics”, “overseas events”
and “international crises” in a more informed and critical way, applying your new
knowledge and theoretical insight to help you understand the world around you in a more
informed and fulfilling way
*a better understanding of what you think about the most important political
issues in our world: economic development and poverty, war/peace, terrorism, state
oppression, human rights abuses and genocide, environmental issues, and so on.
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Course Structure:
In the first part of the course we examine the basic question around which political
science as a discipline organizes itself-- how do we (and how have we in the past)
balance(d) our individual, separate human existences with the fact that we must also
live together on Earth as a community (or rather several communities) of people,
and what might be the best way to do this (and the worst ways and the “possible”
ways) ? In this section, we explore how different political actors have addressed this
fundamental problem of how we should live both individually and together. More
specifically, we will address the following ideologies or “ISMS”: liberalism,
conservatism, socialism, nationalism, feminism, anarchism and religious fundamentalism.
Throughout this section of the course, we will be asking how and to what extent these
ideas actually influence political behavior or political life in the “real world”, if at all.
In the second part of the course, we turn more directly to the question of political practice
by comparing different types of political systems. In this introduction to comparative
politics we address the extremes of political systems: democracies and dictatorships,
particularly totalitarian dictatorships. By using this opposition, we are able to
examine the goals of different political systems, the institutions they establish to achieve
those goals, and the implications of those political systems for the people that live under
them. In this section we will use both theoretical articles about democratic and nondemocratic political systems as well as personal memoirs from citizens in each of these
systems to understand more fully how different political systems function. We also
examine the relationship between capitalism, economic development and democratic
development, attempting to untangle the complicated relationship between wealth or
poverty and democracy and dictatorship.
In the final part of the course, and with full acknowledgments to Tolstoy, we examine
another great opposition, that which animates much of what we call international
relations: war and peace. We look at the causes and varieties of war and peace, and at
the concept of security, in the process gaining a broad introduction to the subfield of
international relations. In this section, we cover some basic theories about international
relations and what drives them, and then look at case studies of some of the major
conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. We conclude by examining the forces of
globalization (which has economic, environmental, political and cultural
dimensions), the changes (or lack thereof) in the international system in the decade since
the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and attempt to evaluate the on-going “Global War on Terror”
using our newfound theoretical knowledge.
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Required Books Available For Purchase at the Skidmore Shop:
1.Andrew Heywood, Political Ideologies, 5th edition.
2.Alfons Heck, A Child of Hitler
3.Joseph Nye, Jr. and David Welch, Understanding International Conflicts, 9th edition.
4. Patrick O’Neil and Ronald Rogowski, Essential Readings in Comparative Politics,
4thed.
Other Required Readings:
5. Readings on Blackboard and on E-Reserves (ARES COURSE RESERVE).
Indicated in the Syllabus by “”E-RESERVE”. Accessible through Skidmore Library
Website at: http://www2.skidmore.edu/library/reserves/index.cfm
6. The Hodges Harbrace Handbook, 17th edition (or after). This (admittedly expensive)
book is an investment not only for your short time in the Government Department at
Skidmore, but also for a lifetime. Not only does it serve as the basis for our evaluation
and feedback of your written work, it is one of the most comprehensive and useful
writing guides out there.
7. A reputable daily newspaper. In addition to the assigned class readings, you should
keep informed about world events by reading the New York Times or another newspaper
with a strong international section, such as the Washington Post or The Times of London.
8. Your Skidmore E-Mail Account. While I will try to post most things on BlackBoard,
I will also be in very frequent EMAIL contact with the class via the Skidmore system.
Please check your Skidmore email daily.
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
The Skidmore College mission statement asks faculty to "create a challenging yet
supportive environment that cultivates students intellectual and personal excellence,
encouraging them to expand their expectations of themselves while they enrich their
academic understanding". To do this, and to help you reach the other course objectives as
listed above, I have devised the following assignments.
1) Class participation, Attendance, and Comportment (10%):
Includes: INFORMED participation in classroom discussions, in-class simulations
and small group activities, in-class quizzes (unannounced, probably will be about 10
or so in total, both multiple choice and short answer) and writing assignments,
response papers and active interaction with the class email list. Adherence to the
Government Department Comportment Code (attached at end of syllabus) enhances
your grade for this part of the course; failure to adhere to it negatively impacts your
grade for this part of the course. About attendance: I expect you to be here every
day, ready to participate. Absences are keenly noted (I take attendance every day) and
will adversely affect your grade for this part of the class. Sports team related absences
must be requested in writing and all classroom work made up. In general,
documentation is useful, but not always sufficient, for absolution of absences.
2) First Midterm Exam: in-class (20%): Friday February 26
3) Second Midterm Exam: in-class (20%): Friday April 1
4) Final Exam (20%): PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY THE CORRECT EXAM
TIME FOR YOUR SECTION OF GO 103:
Section 002 (the one that meets at 9:05) is MON MAY 9 from 6-9pm
Section 001 (the one that meets at 10:10) is MON May 9 from 9-12am
5) Three Short papers: (10% each for a total of 30%) (Each will be a 3-4
page paper; assignments to be handed out in class)
PAPER ONE DUE: Wednesday February 17
PAPER TWO DUE: Wednesday March 30
PAPER THREE DUE: Monday May 2
**Important note for papers: All papers will be graded according to the grammatical
and composition standards of The Writing Requirement in the Department of Government
and the Checklist for Grading Writing Assignments in Government. These guidelines are
available in brochure form and on-line at:
http://cms.skidmore.edu/government/writing_guide/index.cfm
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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Reading Questions:
I will be sending out reading questions on the class email list before every class.
Although turning in written answers to these question is NOT REQUIRED, it is
TRULY in your best interest to use these questions to help guide your reading and your
preparation for class EVERY DAY. The questions for the periodic and unannounced
quizzes that are part of your class participation grade will be drawn directly from these
email questions, and you will be able to use any notes you have taken for these quizzes
(though you may not use the readings/ books themselves).
POLICY ON LAPTOPS/TEXTING/SURFING IN CLASS
Unless you have an accommodation documented by the Coordinator for Students with
Disabilities, located in the Office of Student Academic Services (Starbuck Center, First
Floor), the use of laptops during this class, for taking notes or otherwise, is strictly
prohibited, as is the use of cell-phones or any other texting or web-surfing device.
ASSESSMENT AND GRADING
As stated in the Skidmore College Catalogue assignment and course grades are assigned
on the following basis (NB: a “B” is “superior work”, it’s official college policy!):
A -- Distinguished work
A-, B+, B -- Superior work
B-, C+, C --Satisfactory work
C-, D+, D--Passing but poor quality work
DUE DATES FOR PAPERS
Papers are due at the beginning of class, on time, on the day indicated in the syllabus. If
your paper is going to be late, it is MUCH better for you to come to class on time that day
without the paper and then turn in the paper late. Skipping class on the due date to finish
a paper will result in a larger deduction to your grade than had the paper simply been
delivered late.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
Don’t do it. I and other faculty members have become sensitized to the popularity of
internet paper services, and we routinely employ services such as those found at
plagiarism.com and other websites to prevent plagiarism. A great resource to consult if
you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism and what doesn’t: Doing Honest Work in
College, by Charles Lipson (Chicago, 2004, 2008).
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Class Schedule and Reading Assignments:
Week 1:
Week 2:
Monday 1/25
Discussion of syllabus and class policies
Wednesday 1/27
Heywood, Ch.1 and 2 (What is Ideology
and Liberalism)
Friday 1/29
NO CLASS: Prof Graney at Conference
Monday 2/1
Heywood, Ch. 3 (Conservatism)
Wednesday 2/3
Heywood, Ch. 2 and 3 continued
Friday 2/5
Heywood, Ch. 4 (Socialism /Communism)
AND
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels,
“Manifesto of the Communist Party,” in
Essential Readings in Comparative Politics
(O’Neil and Rogowski, ed), p 469-480.
Week 3:
Monday 2/8
Same readings as Friday 2/6
Wednesday 2/10
Heywood, Ch. 5 (Anarchism)
AND
“Declaration of the Occupation of New
York City,” and “International Assembly:
Global May Manifesto”, E-RESERVE
Week 4:
Friday 2/12
Heywood, Ch. 6 (Nationalism)
Monday 2/15
Heywood Ch. 8 (Feminism)
AND
Rothschild, Natalie. “Swedish Women vs.
Vladimir Putin,” Foreign Policy, December
5, 2014. ONLINE at
http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/05/canvladimir-putin-be-intimidated-by-feminismsweden/
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Wednesday 2/17
Heywood, Ch. 9 (Ecologism): PAPER #1
DUE
Friday 2/19
Heywood, Ch. 10 (Rel. Fundamentalism)
AND
Massie, Christopher. “Is ISIS a Faith-Based
Terrorist Group?”, Columbia Journalism
Review, September 14, 2015. ONLINE at:
http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/is_is
is_a_faith-based_terroris.php?page=all
Week 5:
Monday 2/22
NO CLASS: Prof. Graney at
Dickinson College
Wednesday 2/24:
Heywood, CH. 11 (Multiculturalism)
AND
Kenan Malik, “The Failure of
Multiculturalism in Europe”, Foreign
Affairs, March/April 2015, at
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/west
ern-europe/failure-multiculturalism
Friday 2/26:
**FIRST MIDTERM EXAM**
Unit Two: Comparative Politics
Week 6:
Monday 2/29:
continue on next page)
What is Comparative Politics? (Readings
“What is Comparative Politics?,” p. 1-2;
“The Science in Social Science?” King et
al., p.7-13; “The Necessity of Politics”,
Fukuyama, p.26-39; all in Essential
Readings in Comparative Politics, 4th ed.
(O’Neil and Rogowski, eds).
AND
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“How Science Goes Wrong: Problems with
Scientific Research” and “What Do
Policymakers Want from Academics” both
on E-RESERVE.
Wednesday 3/2:
Democracies : What is a democracy ?
Why is it good? How do you get one?
“A Brief History of Human Liberty,”
Zakaria, p.188-203; and
“What Democracy Is…and Is Not,”
Schmitter and Karl, p.203-213;
and “Constitutional Choices in New
Democracies,” Lijphart, p. 213-222;
all in Essential Readings in Comparative
Politics, 4th ed. (O’Neil and Rogowski,
eds).
Friday 3/4:
Democracy and Economics
“Root Causes,” Acemoglu, p.155-159; and
“To Help the Poor,” Easterly, p.547-553;
and “Why Has African Grown So Slowly?”
Collier and Gunning, p.553-570
all in Essential Readings in Comparative
Politics, 4th ed. (O’Neil and Rogowski,
eds).
Week 7:
Monday 3/7:
Non-Democratic States
“Modern Non-Democratic Regimes,” Linz
and Stepan, p.267-279, Essential Readings
in Comparative Politics, 4th ed. (O’Neil
and Rogowski, eds).
Wednesday 3/9:
“The Rule of Law Versus the Big Man,”
Diamond, p.294-303, and “The Rise of
Competitive Authoritarianism,” Levisky and
Way, p.303-313, in Essential Readings in
Comparative Politics, 4th ed. (O’Neil and
Rogowski, eds).
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Friday 3/11:
Arab Spring Revolutions?
“Understanding the Revolutions of 2011:
Weakness and Resilience in Middle Eastern
Autocracies,” Goldstone, p.366-372.
Essential Readings in Comparative
Politics, 4th ed.
AND
“Tracking the Arab Spring: Why the Modest
Harvest?” Brownlee, Masoud and Reynolds,
Journal of Democracy , E-RESERVE
Week 8:
Monday 3/14-3/20
SPRING BREAK !!
Week 9:
Monday 3/21
Oil Cursed / Blessed States
“The First Law of Petropolitics”, Thomas
Friedman, Foreign Policy, 2009 on ERESERVE
AND
“Putin Breaks the First Law of
Petropolitics,” Leonid Bershidsky,
Bloomberg, December 8, 2014, ONLINE at
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2
014-12-08/putin-breaks-first-law-ofpetropolitics
AND
“Combating the Resource Curse”,
Weinthal and Jones Luong, 279-294, in
Essential Readings in Comparative
Politics, 4th ed. (O’Neil and Rogowski,
eds)
Wednesday 3/23
Failed States
“War and the State in Africa”, Herbst, p.4560, and “The New Nature of Nation-State
Failure”, Rotberg, p. 60-67 in Essential
Readings in Comparative Politics, 4th ed.
AND
Adibe, Jideofor. “The Emergence of Boko
Haram,” Brookings Briefing, May 6, 2014,
ONLINE at
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-
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focus/posts/2014/05/06-emergence-of-bokoharam-adibe
Friday 3/25
Fascism : Nazi Germany and Italy under
Il Duce
Heywood , Ch. 7, “Fascism”
and
Heck, A Child of Hitler, Ch. 1-4
Week 10:
Week 11:
Monday 3/28
Heck, A Child of Hitler, FINISH book
Discuss A Child of Hitler
Wednesday 3/30
Heck Discussion Continued, and
**PAPER #2 DUE**
Friday 4/1:
**SECOND MIDTERM EXAM**
Monday 4/4:
Begin Section 3: War and Peace / IR
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, p.2-21 and p.38-71.
AND
Thucydides, “Melian Dialogue”, adapted by
Suresht Bald, E-RESERVE
Wednesday 4/6:
Balance of Power and WW1
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, Ch. 3
Friday 4/8
League of Nations and WW2
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, Ch. 4
Week 12:
Monday 4/11:
Beginning of the Cold War
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, p. 142-mid-159
AND
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“The Sources of Soviet Conduct”, George F.
Kennan (“X”), E-RESERVE
Wednesday 4/13:
Cold War, MAD, Cuban Missile Crisis
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, p. 172 (mid)-191
AND
“On the Brink”, Tony Judt, on ERESERVE (Recommended)
Week 13:
Friday 4/15:
No Class: Prof. Graney at Columbia
Monday 4/18:
Vietnam to the End of the Cold War:
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, p.mid-159-top 172,
AND
“The Crisis of Confidence Speech”, Jimmy
Carter, E-RESERVE
Wednesday 4/20
Describing The Post-Cold War World
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, p.255-275
AND
“The World is Spiky,” Florida, p.590-595
and “Is Global Governance
Feasible?,”,Rodrik, p.595-609 in Essential
Readings in Comparative Politics, 4th ed,
(Rogowski and O’Neil)
Friday 4/22
What Do Terrorists Want?
“What Terrorists Really Want,” Abrahms,
p.372-394, Essential Readings in
Comparative Politics, 4th ed, (Rogowski and
O’Neil)
AND
“Does Terrorism Work?” by David A.
Graham, The Atlantic, May 25, 2015:
available at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/arc
hive/2015/05/does-terrorism-work/394028/
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Week 14:
Monday 4/25
Terrorism and the GWOT
Nye and Welch, Understanding
International Conflicts, Chapter 8
AND
Jason Burke, The New Threat: The Past,
Present and Future of Islamic Militancy,
p.16-36, PDF on Blackboard
Wednesday 4/27
The Afghan War: Then and Now
“West Point Graduation Speech,” President
George Bush, E-RESERVE,
AND
“Obama’s Afghanistan Speech: Five
Points”CS Monitor, E-RESERVE
AND
“Afghanistan: A Shocking Indictment”,
Rory Stewart, New York Review of Books,
November 2014, available at:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2014/11/0
6/afghanistan-shocking-indictment/
Friday 4/29
SHORT ARTICLES)
The Iraq War: Then and Now (ISIS) (4
President George W. Bush’s Iraq Invasion
Speech, March 2003, available at:
http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2013/03/18/ful
l-text-of-president-george-w-bushs-speechmarch-19-2003/
AND
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“What the War in Iraq Wrought,” Jon Les
Anderson, New Yorker Blog, January 15,
2014, E-RESERVE
AND
“How ISIS Spread in the Middle East, And
How to Stop It,” David Ignatius, The
Atlantic, October 29, 2015, available at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/arc
hive/2015/10/how-isis-started-syriairaq/412042/
AND
“Syria: The Story of the Conflict,” BBC
News, October 9, 2015, available at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middleeast-26116868
Week 15:
Monday 5/2
Wrap-Up and Review for Final
** PAPER #3 DUE **
**FINAL EXAM:
PLEASE NOTE CAREFULLY THE CORRECT EXAM
TIME FOR YOUR SECTION OF GO 103
Section 002 (the one that meets at 9:05) is MON MAY 9 from 6-9pm
Section 001 (the one that meets at 10:10) is MON May 9 from 9-12am
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