POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
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Department of Political Science and Public Administration
POS 203-01: Introduction to Political Science
Spring 2012
TR 11-12:15
Instructor: Dr. David Faris
Office: AUD 757
Email: dfaris@roosevelt.edu
Office Phone: 312-341-3512
Office Hours: Tuesdays 3:30-5:30, Thursdays 3:30-4:30 and by appointment
Course Description:
Introduction to Political Science explores the nature of the political universe in
comparative perspective. Primarily we will be focusing on how groups and individuals share and
struggle over power in countries outside the United States. In this course we will look at how
different countries structure their political arenas to best divide power between competing
groups in society. We will look at the different components of countries – the state itself, civil
society, electoral institutions, international groups and actors, and individuals –and debate the
effectiveness, justness, and viability of different governing arrangements. We will be using the
comparative method to do so, in which we explore the similarities and differences in various
countries and groups of countries. We will also be discussing at length the emergence of the
state system that serves as the foundation of the global order, and the ways in which the dual
systems of states and nations often find themselves in conflict with one another.
Goals and Philosophy:
The course is not designed to force you to memorize facts, figures and dates but rather
to help you become conversant in the major political questions and themes that characterize
public debate in the global order. By the end of the course you will not just understand but be
fluent in the kinds of questions policymakers, scholars, and opinion-leaders tackle on a daily
basis. This syllabus serves as an invitation for you to join the conversations that political
scientists engage in with each other, with scholars from other disciplines, with policymakers,
POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
and with other groups and individuals in the political world. This is not a lecture-only course. On
the contrary, to help develop your skills as critical thinkers, we will be engaging in a variety of
collaborative and group activities in the classroom, designed to solve problems and offer
answers to the toughest questions facing those who consider questions of politics and policy.
Required Texts:
The following texts are available for purchase in the university bookstore.
1. O’Neil, Patrick H., Karl Fields, and Don Share, eds. Cases in Comparative Politics, Third
Edition. WW Norton and Co. (In the syllabus, “Cases”)
2. O’Neil, Patrick H. Essentials of Comparative Politics, Third Edition. WW Norton and Co.
(In the syllabus, “Essentials”)
3. O’Neil, Patrick H. and Ronald Rogowski, eds., Essential Readings in Comparative Politics,
Third Edition. (In the syllabus, “Essential Readings”)
All other readings will be posted well in advance on Blackboard. Such readings are denoted by a
{BB} in the syllabus.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course other than a pulse.
Attendance and Punctuality:
Because of the frequency of interactive activities and presentations, your presence in class is
essential to the creation and maintenance of a collaborative learning environment. Absences of
up to 2 class periods will be forgiven. Further absences will be subtracted on a percentage basis
directly from your final grade, unless excused by a note. For instance if you miss 5 more classes
beyond your two freebies, you’ve missed roughly 18% of our class sessions, and the best grade
you could possibly receive would be an 82 (C-). Students who miss 8 or more TOTAL classes will
automatically fail or will be forced to withdraw from the course.
Students who arrive after roll is taken will receive half-credit for that day’s attendance;
Students arriving more than 15 minutes late are welcome to stay, but will receive no credit for
that day’s attendance.
Crisis Policy
If you are experiencing difficulties with your health, personal life or any other crisis that is
affecting your ability to come to class and complete the work, it is imperative that you alert me
as soon as possible. The best path is to see someone at Roosevelt’s counseling center, who can
then alert all your professors that you are having trouble. This is very important: You cannot
come to me in April and tell me you’ve been having trouble since January. You’ll find that if you
come to me promptly, I will be very understanding and will work together with you to devise
strategies to get you through the class.
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
Assignments
Mid-term Exam: There will be one exam, a midterm, administered on Tuesday, October 18th.
Quizzes: There will be 8 quizzes based on the required readings. Quiz days are listed in the
syllabus. No make-up quizzes will be given for late or absent students, but your lowest quiz
grade will be dropped.
Working Groups: We will be forming 10 country-specific working groups, in which you will be
working in groups of 4. The working groups will not require collaboration outside of class, but
will be used in class to brainstorm ideas and problems relevant to your particular country, to
workshop paper ideas, and to discuss the relevance of course themes relevant to your region.
Working groups will occasionally present their findings in plenary sessions in which the class will
come together as a group to engage in extended discussion. Participation in working groups is
mandatory and forms part of your class participation grade. As part of your working group
participation, you are expected to follow the most recent political news in your country –
through both the BBC’s World News section and one flagship local English newspaper. The
country you choose in this group will also be at least partially the subject of your term paper.
More details about these working groups will follow during their formation next week.
Grading
Mid-term 25%
Final Exam: 35%
Quizzes: 20%
Participation: 20%
The Working Groups will be:
The United Kingdom
Germany
Mexico
Nigeria
Iran
University Policy on Absence to Observe Religious Holidays:
Roosevelt University respects the rights of students to observe major religious holidays and will
make accommodations, upon request, for such observances. Students who wish to observe
religious holidays must inform their instructors in writing within the first two weeks of the
semester of their intent to observe the holiday so that alternative arrangements convenient to
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
both students and faculty can be made at the earliest opportunity. See the student handbook
for further details.
Class Schedule
***Readings Are To Be Completed Before Class on the Date They Are Assigned***
Week 1: THE POLITICAL WORLD AND THE COMPARATIVE METHOD
Tuesday January 17th
In class: Logistics and Introduction to the study of politics
Read: Thursday January 19th
In class: Lecture
Read: “Chapter 1: Introduction” (Essentials) Lichbach, Mark, and Zuckerman, Alan S. “Research
Traditions and Theory in Comparative Politics.” (Essential Readings).
Week 2: EMPIRES, STATES AND THE STATE SYSTEM
Tuesday January 24th
In-class: Lecture: “Emergence of the state system” Working groups
Read: Eric Hobsbawn, “Nationalism” (Essential Readings); Stephen D. Krasner, “Sovereignty”
(Essential Readings); “Chapter 2: States” (Essentials);
Thursday, January 26th
In-class: NO CLASS, Professor Faris traveling
Read: “Chapter 3: Nations and Society” (Essentials); Robert I. Rotberg, “The New Nature of
Nation-State Failure” (Essential Readings)
Week 3: DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS/United Kingdom
Tuesday January 31st
In-class: Quiz #1; Lecture: “Structuring Contestation in Democratic Societies”;
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
Read: Zakaria, Fareed “A Brief History of Human Liberty” (Essential Readings); “Chapter 5:
Democratic Regimes” (Essentials)
Thursday February 2nd
In-class: U.K. Group Presentations
Read: “United Kingdom” (Cases); : Juan Linz, “The Perils of Presidentialism” Journal of
Democracy 1(1) Winter 1990, 51-69 {BB}
Week 4: COMPARATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS/United Kingdom
Tuesday February 7th
In-class: Lecture “Problems in Electoral System Design”
Read: David Horowitz, “Electoral Systems: A Primer For Decision Makers.” {BB} Simon Schama,
“Three Way Race.” The New Yorker, May 10th, 2010 {BB}.
Thursday February 9th
In-class: Collaborative exercise on elections
Read: Scott Mainwaring and Matthew S. Shugart, ‘Juan Linz, presidentialism and democracy. A
critical appraisal’, Comparative Politics, Vol. 29, No.4 (1997) {BB}, pp.449-71.; Duverger “The
Number of Parties” (Essential Readings);
Week 5: PROBLEMS IN ADVANCED DEMOCRACIES/Germany
Tuesday, February 14th
In class: Quiz #2; Lecture “Problems in advanced democracies”
Read: “Germany” (Cases in Comparative Politics);
Thursday February 16th
In-class: Germany group presentations; Working groups
Read: “Chapter 7: Advanced Democracies” (Essentials)
Week 6: THE FUTURE OF THE WELFARE STATE/Germany
Tuesday, February 21st
Lecture “The Crisis of the Welfare State”
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
Read: David Leonhardt, “The German Example,” New York Times, June 7th, 2011 (BB); selections
from Tony Judt’s Ill Fares the Land (BB). Margarita Estévez-Abe, Torben Iversen, and David
Soskice, “Social Protection and the Formation of Skills: A Re-Interpretation of the Welfare
State.” (Essential Readings)
Thursday February 23rd
In-class: Working groups
Read: “Electoral Institutions and the Politics of Coalitions: Why Some Democracies Redistribute
More than Others” (Essential Readings)
Week 7: NON-DEMOCRATIC REGIMES/Iran
Tuesday February 28th
In-class: Quiz #3; Lecture: “Politics in Authoritarian States”; Working groups
Read: “Chapter 6: Non-Democratic Regimes” (Essentials); “Iran” (Cases in Comparative Politics).
Thursday March 1st
In-class: Iran group presentations
Read: Roger Cohen “Iran: The Tragedy and the Future”. New York Review of Books, August 13th,
2009 (BB); Linz and Stepan “Modern Non-Democratic Regimes” (Essential Readings).
Week 8: MIDTERM
Tuesday March 6th
In-class: MIDTERM REVIEW
Thursday March 8th
In-class: MIDTERM EXAM
Week 9: No Class Spring Break
Week 10: POLITICAL ECONOMY/Iran
Tuesday, March 20th
In-class: Quiz #4; Lecture: “Political Economy”
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
Read: “Chapter 4: Political Economy” (Essentials); Adam Smith “An Inquiry….” (Essential
Readings)
Thursday March 22nd
In-class: Collaborative exercise: “The Rentier State”
Read: “Erika Weinthal and Pauline Jones Luong, “Combating the Resource Curse” (Essential
Readings); James Surowiecki, “Troubled Waters Over Oil.” The New Yorker, February 19th, 2007
(BB).
Week 11: POLITICAL VIOLENCE/Mexico
Tuesday March 27th
In-Class: Quiz #5, Lecture “Political Violence”
Read: “Mexico” (Cases); “Chapter 10: Political Violence” (Essentials)
Thursday March 29th
In-class: Mexico Group Presentations
Read: Marsha Crenshaw “The Causes of Terrorism” (Essential Readings); Finnegan, William,
“Letter From Tijuana.” The New Yorker, October 18th, 2010 (BB).
Week 12: GLOBALIZATION/Mexico
Tuesday April 3rd
In-class: Lecture: “Globalization”
Read – “Chapter 11: Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics” (Essentials); Stanley
Hoffman, “Clash of Globalizations” (Essential Readings); Douglass C. North, “Institutions”
(Essential Readings)
Thursday April 5th
Read – Jagdish Bhagwati, “In Defense of Globalization”; Niall Ferguson, “Sinking Globalization”
Week 13: POLITICS IN DEVELOPING STATES/Nigeria
Tuesday, April 10th
In-class: Quiz #6, Lecture: “The Global South”
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
Read: “Nigeria” (Cases); Jeffrey Herbst “War and the State in Africa” (Essential Readings);
William Easterly: “To Help the Poor” (Essential Readings);
Thursday April 12th
In-class: Nigeria Group Presentations, Working groups;
Read: “Chapter 9: Less-Developed and Newly Developing Countries” (Essentials); Paul Collier
and Jan Willem Gunning, “Why Has Africa Grown Slowly?” (Essential Readings)
Week 14: STRUCTURING CONTESTATION IN DIVIDED SOCIETIES/Nigeria
Tuesday April 17th
In-class: Quiz #7; In-class: Lecture: Politics in Divided Societies
Read: Arend Lijphart, “Constitutional Choices for New Democracies” (Essential Readings);
Tayler, Jeffrey. “Worse Than Iraq?” The Atlantic Monthly, April 2006 (BB).
Thursday April 19th
In-class: Working groups
Read: Robert J. Barro, “Democracy: A Recipe For Growth?” (Essential Readings); James Fearon
and David D. Laitin, “Ethnicity Insurgency and Civil War” (Essential Readings)
Week 15: LOOKING FORWARD
Tuesday April 24th
In-class: Lecture “The Future of the Global Order”;
Read: Khanna, Parag. “Beyond City Limits.” Foreign Policy, Sept/Oct 2010 (BB). The Economist,
“Is Government Disappearing?” (Essential Readings); Samuel Huntington, “The Clash of
Civiliations” (Essential Readings)
Thursday April 26th
In-class: Quiz #8/Final Exam Review/Evaluations
Important Notes:
Students with disabilities may request special accommodations. Students must let me know
within the first two weeks of the semester if this is the case, and they also must contact Nancy
Litke in the Academic Success Center (312-384-3810).
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POS 203: Introduction to Political Science
Students are required to abide by the University’s Code of Student Conduct. Students who
plagiarize or cheat will receive a zero for the assignment and will be referred to the university
for disciplinary action.
Cell phones, mp3 players and other personal electronic devices must be switched off during
class. You may use your laptop for notetaking, but students using their laptops for personal
communication during class will be asked to stop.
There is no eating during class. You may bring drinks with lids or caps.
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