Comparative Politics
COLLEGE OF ALAMEDA
Crystallee R. Crain, MA
(PhD cand. @ the California Institute of Integral Studies)
ccrain@peralta.edu Website: profcrain.weebly.com
click on posci 2 (alameda) link
(call to leave a message @) 510-764-1825 (no texting)
Course Information: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Room: C208
REMINDER: Sign up for reuters.com updates. It will be your responsibility to keep up to date on international
politics for this course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This introduction course is a narrative-contextual world systems approach to the study and comparative analysis
of political leadership, citizenship & participation, centers of power, and political problems of selected
governments in the “modern world system”.
Comparative Political Systems examines theories of the state and methods of comparing political systems across time
and space. Spatial comparisons (typically called comparative government or geopolitical systems) examine the
similarities and differences in social and political institutions between different countries. Temporal comparisons is an
historical systems examination of the process of political change.
Relative to changes in the social system, of necessity we shall consider the issues of
a)
traditionalism and nationalism (conservativism),
b)
property rights and free trade orientations (liberalism), and
c)
issues of human rights – social, environmental, and inter-generational justice issues (radicalism)
d)
globalization, and
e)
introduce and explore an indigenous rights perspective to state and nation making.
This is an interdisciplinary approach utilizing many perspectives in a holistic analysis – including psychohistory and
humanist approach to history, politics, social change, post-modern constructivism, and narrative systems in exploration of
political evolution from three systemic levels (micro – psychological, macro – socio-political, and grand systems – worlds
systems). This will allow us to understand questions that go to the core of the political and social organization of our world
and each of our own place within this context.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Comparative politics examines many facets of political life in states. Among other things it studies political institutions,
political culture, different economic systems, and economic and political development. It also examines how international
relationships impact the nation state. Through comparing similarities and differences among states we can gain a greater
understanding of how politics works. This section contains numerous activities that explore the various aspects of
comparative politics.
At the end of the course, each student should:
 Understand the major schools of thought used in
comparing political systems including structural
functionalism, political-economy approaches, social
choice theory, and political culture........ all in the context
of a narrative contextual world systems approach;
 Understand the nature of social systems or “social
orders” (i.e. democracy, authoritarianism, and
totalitarianism) and various political ideologies
associated with these
 Understand the differences and similarities and
connections between political systems of government
and governance and economic systems;
 Be able to apply methods for comparing political
systems to explain political and social phenomena in
today's world with an eye towards understanding how
the future of the worlds system is unfolding and how we
are involved in this process.
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The “outcomes” of what you learn in this course should allow you to be able to:
of learning about the emergent orders of government(s)
in the modern worlds system as well of the system as
 Demonstrate a degree of mastery and overall
whole.
working knowledge of the historical background and
evolution of the principles of government and
 Demonstrate a degree of capacity to assume
governance in various systems and their institutions in
responsibility as a citizen in a 21st Century knowledge
the modern world system today.
economy in the context of global environmental
challenges and the ability to apply the principles of
 Demonstrate a degree of proficiency in being
democratic philosophy in their own contexts socioable to use political thinking, analysis (theory and
political and personal.
philosophy), and “futures consciousness” – ability to
apply and practice these discipline skills, in the process
ASSIGNMENTS
In-class Assignments (4) – 25 points each (100)
Short Essays – 3 points each (150)
Independent Research Portfolio – 100 points
Final Paper: Analytical Essay on International Political Relationships – 100 pts
Attendance (10 points/week) – 160 points
TOTAL: 610 points
90% 549 80% 488 70% 427 60% 366
COURSE MATERIALS
MAIN TEXT:
Alan Draper, Ansil Ramsay (2008). Title:Good Society, The: An Introduction to Comparative Politics,
Longman
Online Course Materials – SEE CLASS WEBSITE
Respect for the Human Rights of all People:
This class will ask you to read, write and discuss issues that are not commonly talked about. Some of these issues may
be related to your own experience or those around you in the class or in the community. Be conscious of your language
and your use of slanderous terms, words or jokes in my classroom or on campus.
Attendance: You are required to attend class regularly and to arrive to class on time. Attendance will be taken at the start
of each class and after each break. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for a class session, you will not receive credit
for the session’s participation grade. Late arrivals are distracting and disruptive to the instructor and your colleagues.
Please be courteous and arrive on time. Students who are consistently absent (more than 10 class hours) will be dropped
from the class.
Punctuality/laptops/cell phones: Cell phones and PDAs may not be out at any time during class and laptops are to be
used for note taking only. Texting is not acceptable behavior during class. If you have business to take care of that
requires cell phone use, take the day off. You can expect me speak to students who have repeated violations with regard
to either of these issues.
Miscellaneous:
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Withdrawal and Incomplete Policy: Students who wish to withdraw must do so before the last “W” date and must inform
the registrar’s office. No incompletes will be awarded without timely consultation with the instructor prior to any due
dates and only with an appropriate reason and where there is only a minimal amount of work to finish.
Basic Skills and Language Issues: If English is not your first language, if you have a documented learning disability or if
you have difficulties with basic skills of college level performance, you are encouraged to make use of our Learning
Resource Center. You can receive one-on-one help from tutors and other professionals with studying, reading, writing
and general language issues. Other difficulties (e.g. learning disability) can be addressed as well – however, you must
see me so special arrangements can be made to improve your performance on the exams and assignments. See extra
credit section as you can earn extra points for attending the Learning Resource Center.
Accommodations Policy: Students with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact
the instructor. The Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) is available to facilitate the reasonable
accommodations process. DSPS can be reached by telephone (voice - 510-748-2328) or at the DSPS office in Room D117.
Policy Regarding Cheating and Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s ideas and/or words in part or total
without proper academic attribution. Students caught plagiarizing or cheating on an exam in any way will receive a grade
of zero (0) for that assignment.
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Assignments Due/
What to do to prepare for class?
CLASS SCHEDULE – Spring 2012
Reading
Lecture Schedule
Sign up for reuters.com updates. It will
be your responsibility to keep up to
date on international politics for this
course.
Watch Century of Self Part 1 & 2 before
class today. (search on youtube)
Bring 3 questions to class for small
group discussions. (Tues)
Reading:
Choose about three
countries and review
their constitutions.
Reading: Good
Societies (Ch 1)
WEEK 1 (Jan 24, 26)
Tuesday – Introduction, Overview of
Assignments, What is Comparative Politics?
Finish Pre-test before class next Tuesday!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sp12compa
rative
Thursday – Geography and World Politics:
Understanding the impact of nation states.
How do politics impact the world?
WEEK 2 (Jan 31, Feb 2)
Tuesday – What are Social Sciences & Critical
Pedagogy?
Thursday – Systems of Governing, World Map
Exercise (In-class assignment)
WEEK 3 (Feb 7, 9)
Tuesday – Watch Century of Self Part 1 & 2
before class today. In-class assignment
Bring 3 questions to class for small group
discussions
Thursday – Systems of Governing
For each class session watch at least
two speeches from the 2011 WTO
Ministerial Conference that took place
in Dec. 2011
http://gaia.worldtelevision.com/wto/2011/min11_webcast
_e.htm
Reading: The history
of the WTO
Political Institutions
and the Good Society
(Ch 2)
WEEK 4 (Feb 14, 16)
Tuesday – International Powers Section I:
Globalization, Consumption & the Self & the
WTO
Thursday – WTO
Short Essay Due (Thursday) (Analytical
Essay on Personal Results from
www.slaveryfootprint.org)
Reading:
Review the UN website
Read about the UN
Structure and
Organization
WEEK 5 (Feb 21, 23)
Tuesday – United Nations
Thursday – United Nations
World Map Exercise
Handouts
States, Markets, and
the Good Society
(Ch 3)
Reading:
Rich Democracies
(Ch 4)
WEEK 6 (Feb 28, March 1)
Tuesday – International Powers Section II:
Wars
Thursday – Wars
Handouts
Watch War on Democracy before class.
Bring 3 questions to class for small
group discussions. (Tues)
Reading:
US Military
Interventions –
Handout
Reading:
Regimes in Rich
Democracies (Ch 5)
WEEK 7 (March 6, 8)
Tuesday – Lecture on U.S. Military
Interventions in the late 20th century, In-class
assignment
Thursday – U.S. Military Interventions in the
21st Century - handout
WEEK 8 (March 13, 15)
Tuesday – Student Teach In, Peer Review
Thursday – Student Teach In, Peer Review
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Reading: Case Studies
(Ch 9)
Short Essay due (Thursday) on effective
acts of protest within international
political realms. Example: “The War on
Democracy”
Reading:
Case Studies (Ch 6)
Reading:
Less Developed
Countries (Ch 7)
Short Essay due (Thursday) Self
Reflective Essay
Reading:
Handouts
Reading:
The Color of the Cat
(Conclusion)
Independent Research Portfolio Due
(Thursday)
FINAL PAPER DUE: STUDENTS
CHOOSE TOPICS! (See assignment
sheet for details)
Reading:
Russia & China (Ch 10)
WEEK 9 (March 20, 22)
Tuesday – Student Teach In, Peer Review
Thursday – North and South Korea
WEEK 10 (March 27, 29)
Tuesday – International Powers Section II:
Social Movements and other Political Efforts
Thursday -Social Movements and other
Political Efforts
WEEK 11 (April 3, 5)
SPRING BREAK
WEEK 12 (April 10, 12)
Tuesday – India: Moaist Revolution
Thursday – Arundhati Roy: Interview with
Fault Lines (Aljazeera English)
WEEK 13 (April 17, 19)
Tuesday – The Iraq War
Thursday – Guantanamo Bay
WEEK 14 (April 24, 26)
Tuesday – The Bolivarian Revolution
Thursday –The Battle over Natural Resources
(Food, water, oil, etc)
WEEK 15 (May 1, 3)
Tuesday – In-class assignment (TBD)
Thursday – Pick your president!
WEEK 16 (May 8, 10)
TURN IN YOUR FINAL PAPER IN CLASS.
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