POSC 240 – COMPARATIVE POLITICS – Fall 2005
Dr. Chris Blake
Maury 207 – 568-6344 – BLAKECH@JMU.EDU
Office Hours: M 3:30-5; Tu 3-5; W 3:30-5 and by appointment
HOME PAGE: http://www.jmu.edu/polisci/bios/blake/240/
This is an introduction to the comparative study of domestic politics. We will begin by studying basic distinctions in formal and
informal governing institutions and we will then apply and develop those distinctions in a variety of settings. Over the course of
the semester, we will examine several contemporary political issues including: the challenges presented by ethnic, racial, and
religious conflict, democratization amid severe economic scarcity, the role of the military in politics, and the politics of
revolution and reform.
EVALUATION:
Class Participation
Bibliography
Take-Home Essay #1
Test #1
Test #2
Take-Home Essay #2
Final Exam
-- 10%
-- 5%
-- 10%
-- 15%
-- 15%
-- 15%
-- 30%
PROCEDURES:
As a point of fairness to your classmates, the honor code must be observed at all times and tests & written work must be handed
in promptly. Tests must be handed in at the end of the class period. Written work that has been turned in late will be penalized 5
points plus an additional 5 points for every additional 24-hour period. The class participation grade will be largely determined by
performance in the class simulation. Written work must be original work created for this course. Make-up exams will be given
only under exceptional circumstances; do not assume that you will be permitted to take a make-up test. Readings should be
completed by class time of the date listed. The professor reserves the right to alter this course outline as circumstances demand.
For further discussion of course policies, see the appropriate portion of the course website.
TEXTS:
[JKK] Joseph, William, Mark Kesselman, & Joel Krieger, eds. Introduction to Politics of the Developing World. 3rd ed.; Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Rotberg, Robert, ed. Crafting the New Nigeria: Confronting the Challenges. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2004.
Wilson, Frank. Concepts and Issues in Comparative Politics. 2nd ed.; Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2002.
Additional readings will be made available in online form via the course website.
READING LIST
INTRODUCTION
WEEK ONE
Aug. 29 – Introduction to Comparative Politics
Aug. 31 – Societal Cleavages = Wilson, pp.2-53; online reading [see website]
Sep. 2 – Political Regime Types: Democratic & Non-Democratic Political Systems = JKK, pp.5-11; online reading [see website]
PART I – DEMOCRATIC POLITICS: France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom
Points of Emphasis: democratic institutions (governmental and non-governmental); the language of political
science; Italian politics
WEEK TWO
Sep. 5– Political Culture and Legitimacy = review Wilson, pp.8-9,22-27; online reading [see website]
Sep. 7 – Interest Groups = Wilson, pp.105-121; online reading [see website]
Sep. 9 – Political Parties = Wilson, pp. 78-104; online reading [see website]
{BIBLIOGRAPHY assigned}
WEEK THREE
Sep. 12 – Electoral Systems = Wilson, pp.57-76; online reading [see website]
Sep. 14 – Executive-Legislative Relations = Wilson, pp.154-164
Sep. 16 – Executive-Legislative Relations in Italy = online reading [see website]
WEEK FOUR
Sep. 19 – The Bureaucracy = Wilson, pp.171-178; online reading [see website]
Sep. 21 – The Judiciary = Wilson, pp.178-181; online reading [see website]
Sep. 23– Subnational Government: Unitary v. Federal States = Wilson, pp.164-169; online reading [see website]
{BIBLIOGRAPHY due at 9:05am; ESSAY #1 assigned}
WEEK FIVE
Sep. 26 – POLITICS WORKSHOP: Policy Reform Exercise under PRES system
Sep. 28 – POLITICS WORKSHOP: Policy Reform Exercise under PARL system
Sep. 30 – TEST #1
(over)
PART II – NON-DEMOCRATIC POLITICS & DEMOCRATIZATION: Brazil & Nigeria
Points of Emphasis: theories of politics amid late industrialization; the military in politics; the politics of
colonialism & decolonization; ethnic conflict; the politics of institutional reform; Nigerian politics
WEEK SIX
Oct. 3 – TEST REVIEW & WRITING WORKSHOP = online reading [see website]; Rotberg, pp.1-14
{SIMULATION assigned}
Oct. 5 – Late Industrialization & Politics = Wilson, pp.184-201, review pp.36-40; JKK, pp.11-25,197-209
Oct. 7 – The Military in Politics = Wilson, pp.138-151
{ESSAY #1 due at 9:05am}
WEEK SEVEN
Oct. 10 – Military Rule in Brazil = JKK, pp.185-197,210-218
Oct. 12 – Democratization & Civil-Military Relations in Brazil & Beyond = JKK, pp. 218-234
Oct. 14 – Colonial Nigeria = JKK, pp.241-247; Rotberg, pp.17-57
WEEK EIGHT
Oct. 17 – From the 1st Republic to Civil War = JKK, pp.247-248; Rotberg, pp.61-97
Oct. 19 – From the 2nd Republic to the Return of Military Rule =JKK, pp.248-249; Rotberg, pp.99-136
Oct. 21 – FALL HOLIDAY: no class today…
WEEK NINE
Oct. 24 – Obasanjo and The 4th Republic = JKK, pp.249-253; online reading [see website]; Rotberg, pp.139-171
Oct. 26 – VIDEO on Nigeria = Rotberg, pp.175-214
Oct. 28 – Simulation Group Meetings = Rotberg, pp.219-249
WEEK TEN
Oct. 31 – Simulation Group Meetings = online reading [see website]
Nov. 2 – SIMULATION: Nigerian Constitutional Convention Day I
Nov. 4 – SIMULATION: Nigerian Constitutional Convention Day II
WEEK ELEVEN
Nov. 7 – SIMULATION: Nigerian Constitutional Convention Day III
Nov. 9 – SIMULATION: Nigerian Constitutional Convention Day IV & Simulation Debriefing
Nov. 11 – TEST #2
PART III – REVOLUTION & REFORM: China, Iran, Mexico
Points of Emphasis: the politics of revolution; “the reformer’s dilemma” (e.g. Deng, Khatami, & Fox)
WEEK TWELVE
Nov. 14 – The Politics of Revolution & Reform = Wilson, pp.202-218
{ESSAY #2 assigned}
Nov. 16 – Revolutionary Politics: China = JKK, pp.31-53
Nov. 18 – The Reformer’s Dilemma: Deng Xiaoping in China = JKK, pp.53-73
WEEK THIRTEEN
Nov. 21 – Revolutionary Politics: Iran = JKK, pp.299-321
Nov. 23-27 -- THANKSGIVING BREAK: no class
WEEK FOURTEEN
Nov. 28 – The Reformer's Dilemma: Mohammed Khatami in Iran = JKK, pp.321-342
Nov. 30 – The Reformer's Dilemma: Iranian Media in the Crossfire
{ESSAY #2 due at 9:05am}
Dec. 2 – Revolutionary Politics: Mexico = JKK, pp.135-157
WEEK FIFTEEN
Dec. 5 – The Reformer's Dilemma: Vicente Fox in Mexico = JKK, pp.157-179; online reading [see website]
Dec. 7 – REFORM POLITICS WORKSHOP: Fox’s platform meets the legislature – defining the agenda
Dec. 9 – REFORM POLITICS WORKSHOP: Fox’s platform meets the legislature – pursuing priorities
FINAL EXAM: Monday, 12/12/05 from 8am to 10am