INTL 3300: Introduction to Comparative Politics1
(Spring 2014)
Rongbin Han
Assistant Professor
Department of International Affairs
The University of Georgia
Section: 87-347
Location: MLC 250
Class Time: TR, 8:00-9:15 am
Office: 322 Candler Hall
Email: hanr@uga.edu
Office Hours: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am
Course Description and Objectives
This course introduces students to the field of comparative politics and prepares students for further
study. Through the course, we will examine the differences and similarities among political systems
across the world. We will also explore a variety of themes including, but not limited to, political
institutions, democratization, development and political culture. Through these themes, the course
familiarizes students with theoretical tools such as structuralism, culturalism, rational choice, and
institutionalism. There are three primary goals: (1) to introduce comparative politics as a methodological
approach that systematically compares world’s political systems; (2) to present major themes, basic
concepts and important theories in the field of comparative politics, and (3) to help students develop
essential analytical skills to understand political phenomena in the world through applying what you’ve
learned in this class.
Required readings:
J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood, Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods,
and Cases (Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2013).
Additional materials are available in the library or on the web.
eLearning Commons Use
Assignments, announcements, and other course related resources can be reached at eLearning Commons
(http://elc.uga.edu/). Please check the site regularly for updates.
** If you have a disability and require reasonable classroom accommodations, please see the
instructor after class or make an appointment. **
Course Requirements and Grading Criteria
Grading
• Attendance and Participation
10%
• Pop Quizzes
15%
• Group Project
25%
• Midterm Exam and Final Exam
25% & 35%
A 93-100
B 83-86.99
C 73-76.99
F 0-59.99
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Final Grade Ranges:
A- 90-92.99 B+ 87-89.99
B- 80-82.99 C+ 77-79.99
C- 70-72.99 D 60-69.99
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be
necessary.
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Attendance and Participation (10%) You are expected to attend all classes regularly. ONE absence is
allowed during the semester for any reason. Additional absences will only be excused for serious health
problems or family emergencies with appropriate documentation (ex. Doctor’s note). Early leave or late
arrival without appropriate reasons will also hurt your grade. If you miss more than 1/3 of the classes,
you will automatically fail this course. No electronic device will be allowed except note taking. Your
participation will be measured in multiple forms, including reading the assigned readings, engaging
discussions, interacting with the instructor and classmates in lectures and group activities. Participation
grade is based on the quantity as well as the quality of your participation.
Pop Quizzes (15%) Four pop quizzes will be administrated on selected dates. Your lowest score will
be dropped and remaining three will each be 5% of the total pop quiz grade. Students who miss pop
quizzes without legitimate reason (medical excuse and family emergence) and proper
documentation will not be provided with make-up pop quizzes. No exceptions.
Group Project (15%) Students will form groups of 5-6 members and conduct a collective project to
apply what we learn in the course to analyze a real political issue. You will select your own topics with
the instructor’s guidance. Specific rules are: (1) The topic must involve two or more countries/political
systems and shall be comparative; (2) The topic must be empirical rather than normative; (3) you must
ask a why question and answer it with solid evidence, using comparative methods. The end product shall
be a presentation and a group report. In the presentation and the report, please include following sections:
(1) introduction and research question, (2) methods, data sources, and research design, (3) analysis, and
(4) conclusion.
Mid-term (25%) and Final Exam (35%)
The exams will be based on the reading material, lectures
and discussions. Detailed instructions will be announced before the exams. No make-up exams will be
administered except under the circumstances of serious illness or death of family member and
only with proper documentation. No other excuses will be accepted. Please contact the instructor in
advance if you need some special assistance to take the exams.
Academic Honesty:
As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty
policy, “A Culture of Honesty,” and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the
standards described in “A Culture of Honesty” found at: www.uga.edu/honesty. Lack of knowledge of
the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course
assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.
Grade Dispute:
Attendance: If you are late for the class and the instructor has already started the lecture or discussion,
please report to the instructor at the end of the class on that particular date. Failing to do so will result in
absence in record, which you will not be able to dispute afterwards.
If you have any questions about your exam grade, you shall report to me within one week from the time
you receive the grade. You need to present a written appeal explaining why you think your grade should
be changed. Please also bear in mind that disputing grade may end up with higher, lower or no change in
your grade.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
1/7: Welcome! Course Introduction
Horace Miner, “Body Ritual among the Nacirema,” American Anthropologist, 58:
3 (June 1956): 503-507.
1/9: Introduction to Introduction to Comparative Politics
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapters 1 and 2
WEEK 2
1/14: The State
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 3
1/16: Development and Political Economy
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 4
WEEK 3
1/21: Nondemocratic States
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 6
1/23: Democracies
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 5
WEEK 4
1/28: Constitutions and Judicial Power
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 7
1/30: Federalism and Unitarism
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 7, pp. 177-187
WEEK 5
2/4: Legislatures and Electoral Systems
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 8
2/6: Governments and Bureaucracies
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 9
WEEK 6
2/11: Political Parties and Party Systems
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 10
2/13: Civil Society and Social Capital
Putnam Robert, Bowling alone: American’s Declining Social Capital. Journal of
Democracy 6, 1 (1995), pp. 65-78.
WEEK 7
2/18: Revolutions and Social Movements
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 11
2/20: Contentious Politics in Authoritarian Regimes
Kevin O’Brien, “Rightful Resistance,” World Politics, 49:1 (1996), pp. 31-55.
– Film: The Story of Qiuju
WEEK 8
2/25: Identity Politics: Nationalism, Race, Ethnicity and Gender
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 12, 13
2/27: Political Culture
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 14
WEEK 9
3/4: Exam Review
3/6: Midterm Exam
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WEEK 10
Spring Break
WEEK 11
3/18: Policymaking
George Tsebelis, “Decision Making in Political Systems: Veto Players in
Presidentialism, Parliamentarism, Multicameralism and Multipartyism,” British
Journal of Political Science 25, 3 (1995), pp. 289-325.
3/20: Political Participation
André Blais, “What Affects Voter Turnout?” Annual Review of Political Science
9 (2006), pp. 111-125.
Andrew Mertha, “‘Fragmented Authoritarianism 2.0’: Political Pluralization in the
Chinese Policy Process,” The China Quarterly 200 (2009), pp. 995-1012.
********* Group Project Topic Due Today **********
WEEK 12
3/25: The Welfare State
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 3, pp. 58-60 and 68-74
3/26: Social Welfare in Authoritarian Regimes
Michael Bernhard, “The Leadership Secrets of Bismarck - Imperial Germany and
Competitive Authoritarianism,” Foreign Affairs, 90 (2011), pp. 150-154.
Mai Lu and Mingliang Feng, “Reforming the Welfare System in the People’s
Republic of China,” Asian Development Review, 25: 1& 2 (2008), pp. 58−80
WEEK 13
4/1: Globalization
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 15, pp. 385-394
4/3: Regionalization
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 15, pp. 382-384; 405-406.
Samuel S Kim, “Regionalization and Regionalism in East Asia,” Journal of East
Asian Studies, 4: 1 (Jan.-April 2004), pp. 39-67.
WEEK 14
4/8: Democratization
Dickovick and Eastwood, Chapter 5;
Fareed Zakaria, “The Rise of Illiberal Democracy,” Foreign Affairs (Nov/Dec,
1997): 22-43.
4/10: Communism and Communist Regimes
The Communist Manifesto
WEEK 15
4/15 and 4/17 Case Study Presentations
WEEK 16
4/22: Case Study Presentation
4/24: Exam Review
FINAL EXAM
Tuesday, May 6, 8:00-11:00AM
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