The American University in Cairo
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Course Outline
POLS 3401-1
Spring 2015
Course Objectives:
This course aims at introducing undergraduate Political science students to the major concepts, themes
and approaches of the Comparative Politics sub-discipline. Throughout fourteen weeks, students will
study, discuss and apply the material outlined in this course description.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class, and each day of attendance counts as one point,
coming 10 minutes late to the class will be recorded as half point, entering class later than that will
deprive you of the class attendance Point..
A student who misses more than the equivalent of three weeks of class meetings during a semester for
any reason may be assigned a reduced grade for the course — including the grade of “F” — solely on the
basis of inadequate attendance, regardless of excuse... Students who miss fewer than three weeks of
class sessions may not be penalized on the grounds of attendance alone... Students are personally
responsible for making up any academic tasks and assignments missed due to their absence.
Blackboard
All members of the class must enter their AUC email addresses on Blackboard.
Assignments
There will be two reaction papers on the assigned readings stand for 10% each of the grade, a mid-term
exam that stands for 20%, class participation and attendance will score for 20% of the final grade, and a
final paper based on relatively-independent research will Count for another 20%. Students will e
required to present their research assignment in class and their presentation ill constitute part of that
20%. Additional instructions will be provided approximately 6 weeks before the due date. The remaining
20% are for the final exam.
Grades
All grades are based on a 100 point scale where 93-100=A, 89-92=A-, 85-88=B+, 80-84=B, 73-79=C, 6572= C-, 50-64=D, less than 50=F, etc. In case of late submissions, penalties will be applied
Academic Integrity Policy: The Political Science Department has a policy of zero-tolerance for plagiarism
and academic dishonesty. Read the University Code of Ethics and check the webpage on academic
integrity at: http://www.aucegypt.edu/resources/acadintegrity/.
We will attend to these issues to present the Basic standards of documentation in academic and
professional writing to the course students.
Week One: Introduction
-Howard J. Wiarda (2000), Introduction to Comparative Politics: Concepts and Process, 4th Editions,
Harcourt College Publishers.
Week Two: Why do we Compare?
-Todd Landman (2005), Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics, San Francisco: Westview Press.
Week Three: The Systematic Study of Comparative Politics
-James A. Bill and Robert Hardgrave (1973), Comparative Politics: The Quest for Theory, Columbia:
Charles E. Merrile Publishing.
Week Four: Developmentalism in Comparative Politics
-Kelly Johnson, ''Developmentalism then and Now: the Origins and Resurgence of a Grand Theory'', in
Howard wiarda (ed.) (2010), Grand Theories and Ideologies in the Social Sciences, Harvard, pp. 19-41.
Week Five: Political Culture Approach
-Bill and Hardgrave, Op.Cit, pp.63-78.
Week Six: Functionalism in Comparative Politics
-Gabriel Almond, ''A Functional Approach to Comparative Politics, in Howard Wiarda, (ed.) (2005),
Critical Concepts in Political Science, Oxon: Routledge, pp.159-213.
Week Seven: Assignments Presentations and Mid-Term Exam
Week Eight: Group Approach
-Bill and Hardgrave, Op.Cit, pp.117-173
Week Nine: Elite Approach:
-Ibid, pp.201-228
Week Ten: Post-Behavioralist Approaches in Comparative Politics
-Wiarda (2000), Op.Cit, pp.79-99.
Week Eleven: New Institutionaism
-Andre Lecours (ed.) (2005), New Institutionalism: Theory and Analysis, Canada: University of Tornoto
Press, pp.3-29; pp.151-176.
Week Twelve: Rational Choice Theory
-Paul F. Whiteley (1991), Book Notes-- Nested Gamed: Rational choice in Comparative Politics...by
Political Studies.
Week Thirteen: Contemporary Issues in Comparative Politics
-Wiarda (2000), Op.Cit, pp.100-119; pp.196-219.
Week Fourteen: Student questions and discussions