UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON
(All rights reserved)
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
FIRST SEMESTER 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE OUTLINE FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION
POLI 111:
CREDITS:
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
THREE
COURSE INSTRUCTOR:
DR. KWAME ASAH-ASANTE
 Office Location: Room 14, Department of Political Science
 Office Hours: Monday 12: 20 pm – 1: 20 pm
 E-mail: kasah-asante@ug.edu.gh
COURSE DELIVERY SCHEDULE
COURSE TITLE
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
COURSE CODE
POLI 111
COURSE
OVERVIEW
AND
OBJECTIVES
Like any other human endeavour, the laying of a solid foundation in
academic pursuit is crucial for the appreciation and understanding of the
discipline. For this to be achieved, it is always important for beginners to
get the basics right before building upon it subsequently. This explains why
this course, Introduction to the Study of Political Science, is offered,
particularly at this level, to introduce students to some basic ideas and
concepts in the field of Political Science. Apart from the nature and scope
of the subject matter of politics, the course will focus on traditional political
concepts like nation, state, power, influence, authority and sovereignty.
Other concepts to be considered include government, political culture,
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political socialization, democracy and good governance due to their
relevance in modern societies. The successful completion and
understanding of this course are necessary for the preparation of students
for a future in-depth study of other Political Science courses.
WEEK/SESSION TOPIC
1 /Sessions 1&2
TUTORIAL VENUE
Nature and Scope
of Political
Science
Nation, State and
Nation-State
The Concepts of
Power,
Authority,
Influence,
Legitimacy and
Sovereignty
Political Culture
& Political
Socialisation
SAKAI
5&6/Session 5
Ideology
SAKAI
7/Session 6
Government
SAKAI
8/Sessions 7&8
Democracy/Good
Governance
SAKAI
9
REVISION
1/Sessions 1&2
2&3/Session 3
4/Session 4
ASSESSMENT
SAKAI
SAKAI
SAKAI
EXAMINATION (30%)
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS (70%)
READING LIST
Core Reading
Brako, I. & Asah-Asante, K. (2019). The ABC of Political Science (2nd Ed.). Accra:
DigiBooks.
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Other Readings
1. Appadorai, A. (1968). The Substance of Politics India: Oxford University Press.
2. Ball, T. and Dagger, R. (1999). Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal New York:
Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers.
3. Baradat, L.P. (1997). Political Ideologies New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
4. Barnes, J.F. et al. (1984). The World of Politics New York: St. Martin’s Press.
5. Bealey, F., et al. (1999). Elements in Political Science Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press.
6. Burnheim, J. (1986). Is Democracy Possible? Berkeley: University of California Press.
7. Coulter, E.M. (1987). Principles of Politics and Government Boston:Allyn and Bacon.
8. Coulter, E.M. (1987). Principles of Politics and Government Boston:Allyn and Bacon, Inc.
9. Crick, B. (2000). In Defence of Politics (rev ed.). Harmondsworth and New York: Penguin.
10. Dahl, R. (1976). Modern Political Analysis Englewood Cliff: Prentice-Hall.
11. Dahl, R. A. and Stinebrickner, B. (2005). Modern Political Analysis (6th ed.). New Dehli:
Prentice-Hall of India Private Ltd.
12. Dahl, R.A. (1989). Democracy and Its Critics New Haven, C.T.: Yale University Press.
13. Danziger, J.N. (1998). Understanding the Political World New York: Longman.
14. Diamond, L. et al. (Eds.). (1997). Democracy in Developing Countries: Persistence,
Failure and Renewal Boulder: Lynne Rienner.
15. Dickerson, M. O. and Flanagan, T. (1990). An Introduction to Government and Politics: A
Conceptual Approach (Scarborough, Ontario: Nelson Canada.
16. Dickerson, M. O. and Flanagan, T. (1990). An Introduction to Government and Politics: A
Conceptual Approach Scarborough, Ontario: Nelson Canada.
17. Donovan, J.C., et al. (1981). People, Power and Politics USA and Canada: AddisonWesley Publishing Company.
18. Duverger, M. (1972). The Study of Politics London: Nelson and Sons.
19. Dyke, V.A. (1992). Introduction to Politics Chicago: Nelson-Hall Publishers.
20. Easton, D. (1965). The Political System New York: A Knopf.
21. Godwin, K.R. and Wahlke, J. (1997). Introduction to Political Science: Reasons,
Reflections and Analysis New York: Harcourt Brace.
22. Gyimah-Boadi, E. (2001). Governance, Institutions and Values in National Development
Legon: Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research.
23. Hague et al. (1992). Political Science: A Comparative Introduction New York: St.
Martin’s.
24. Heywood, A. (2007). Politics (3rd ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
25. Jackson, R.J. and Jackson, D. (Eds.). (2003). An Introduction to Political Science:
Comparative and World Politics (4th ed.). Toronto: Prentice-Hall.
26. Janda, K. et al. (1989). The Challenge of Democracy Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
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27. Kohn, H. (1966). Political Ideologies of the Twentieth Century (3rd ed). New York: Harper
and Row.
28. Laski, H.J. (1967). Grammar of Politics London: Allen and Unwin.
29. Lasswell, H. (1936). Politics: Who Gets What, When and How? New York: McGraw-Hill.
30. Lawson, K., (1985). The Human Polity: An Introduction to Political Science Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company.
31. Leftwich, A. (Ed.). (1984). What is Politics? The Activity and Its Study Oxford and New
York: Blackwell.
32. Lipset, S.M. (1960). Political Man: The Social Bases of Politics New York: Doublebay.
33. MacIver, R.M. (1984). The Modern State Princeton, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
34. Magstadt, T.M. and Schotten, P.M. (1996) Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions and
Issues 4th ed.). New York: St Martin’s Press.
35. Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (2002). Theory and Methods in Political Science (2nd ed.). New
York: Palgrave Macmillan.
36. Miller, J.D.B. (1962). The Nature of Politics London: G. Duckworth.
37. Nnoli, O. Introduction to Politics (1986). Singapore: Longman Singapore Publishers Pte
Ltd.
38. Oakeshott, M. et al. (1975). Ideologies of Politics Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
39. Palmer, N.D. and Perkins, H.C. (2002). International Relations: The World Community in
Transition Krishan Nagar, Dehli: A.I.T.B.S. Publishers.
40. Roskin et al. (1991). Political Science: An Introduction (4th ed.). New Jersey: PrenticeHall.
41. Sargent, L.T. (1990). Contemporary Political Ideologies Pacific Grove, California:
Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
42. Shiverly. W.P. (2002). Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science (5th ed.).
New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
43. Skidmore, M. J. (1993). Ideologies: Politics in Action Philadelphia: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich.
44. Turner, M. J. et al. (1991). American Government: Principles and Practices Westerville,
Ohio: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.
45. Vincent, A. (1987). Theories of the State New York: Blackwell.
46. Willhoite, F.H., (n.d.). Power and Governments: An Introduction to Politics (California:
Brooks/Cole Publishing Company)
Journal Article
47. Leftwich, A. (1993). Governance, Democracy and Development in the Third World. Third
World Quarterly, 14 (3), p.1-50.
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Web Page Materials
48. Good Governance and sustainable human development. Available at F:\ Good governance –
and sustainable human development – UNDP accessed on 09/07/07
49. Governance: Sound Development Management. Available at F:\Governance Sound
Development Management - Good Governance defined- ADB_org.htm.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS, ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The course will last for 13 weeks.
Each class will have a two-hour lecture in addition tutorials per week.
The mode of teaching will be solely on the Sakai learning platform.
There will be class exercises which will constitute 70% of the student assessment for the
semester and end of semester examination which will constitute 30%. Students will be
required to answer questions including multiple choice questions.
5. Both the interim assessments and end of semester examinations will be on Sakai and in
an on-sight mode. There will be two interim assessments which will be taken at the
seventh and eighth weeks.
Plagiarism Policy
The policy is available at http:www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policies-guidelines
Grading Scale: Refer to Undergraduate Handbook
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