Political Science 2: Introduction to Comparative Politics
CATALOG STATEMENT:
This course is an introduction to the field of comparative politics. The course
surveys a number of basic topics and themes central to the study of comparative
political systems. Topics to be examined include: political power, political culture
and socialization, participation in politics, governmental structures,
democratization, economic policies and development. These topics will be
explored in selected countries from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East,
and North America.
GOALS:
General Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify different theoretical approaches to comparative politics
2. Describe and apply key concepts in comparative politics
3. Compare and contrast different kinds of political systems
4. Explain contrasting economic policies in selected countries
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Specific Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able
to:
1. Explain the difference between normative and empirical approaches to
comparative politics
2. Draw a distinction between quantitative and qualitative analysis
3. Develop a testable hypothesis
4. Clarify the meaning of key concepts such as political power, political culture
and socialization
5. Differentiate between unitary states, federations and confederations
6. Discuss the process of democratization within a given country
7. Demonstrate the difference between a presidential and parliamentary system
8. Compare and contrast capitalism, socialism and mixed economies
OUTCOMES:
1. Outcome: Analyze and apply different theoretical approaches to solve political
issues in a specific country
Assessment: Find and discuss newspaper or journal articles that illustrate
normative and empirical approaches to deal with political issues in a specific
country
2. Outcome: Understand the differences between democratic and nondemocratic
countries.
Assessment: Write a paper that explains the differences between a democratic
and nondemocratic country, in terms of basic rights that people have in those
countries.
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OUTLINE OF TOPICS:
The following topics are included in the framework of the course but are not intended as
limits on content. The order of presentation and relative emphasis will vary with
instructors.
1) The Study of Comparative Politics
a) What is comparative politics?
b) Why study comparative politics?
c) The purposes of comparison
2) Major Topics of Comparative Politics
a) What is politics?
b) The political system
c) Political regimes: democracy and authoritarianism
d) Political processes
e) Sources of political conflict
3) Theoretical Approaches to Comparative Politics
a) Normative and empirical approaches
b) Deductive versus inductive reasoning
c) The scientific method
d) Quantitative and qualitative analysis
e) Hypothesis testing
4) Political Power
a) Defining power
b) Power and elites
c) Authority and legitimacy
d) Weapons of the weak
5) Identity and Community
a) States versus nations
b) Nationalism
c) Nation building
d) When the nation and state conflict
e) Supranationalism
f) Ethnicity, religion and race
g) Class identity
6) Political Culture
a) Defining political culture
b) Political socialization
c) Studies of political culture
7) The State and its Institutions
a) Defining the state
b) State institutions: the executive, legislature and judiciary
c) Constitutions and the design of government
d) How states are organized: unitary states, federations, and confederations
8) Democracy and Democratization
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a) Defining democracy
b) Substantative and procedural views of democracy
c) Conditions for democracy
d) Democratization
e) Consolidation of democracy
f) Stable democracies: features and types
9) Institutional Design and Elections
a) Presidential system
b) Parliamentary system
c) Presidential-parliamentary system
d) Electoral system: majoritarian and proportional
10) Political Participation
a) Voting
b) Political parties
c) Interest groups
d) Unconventional political participation
e) Social movements
f) The role of women
g) Dissidence
h) Revolution
11) Political Economy
a) Laissez-faire capitalism
b) The centrally planned economy
c) Mixed economies
d) The welfare state
12) The Politics of Development
a) Developed countries
b) Newly industrializing countries
c) Developing countries
d) Economic development and democracy
13) Case Studies (cover two or three countries briefly)
a) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
b) France
c) Germany
d) Japan
e) Russia
f) China
g) Mexico and Brazil
h) Nigeria and South Africa
Required Textbook:
Michael J Sodaro. Comparative Politics, with PowerWeb.2nd or current edition
McGraw-Hill, 2005
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