UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for Course Change
Fall 2017
FAST TRACK (Select if this will be a fast track item. Refer to Fast Track Policy for
eligibility)
If the changes included in this proposal are significant, attach copies of original and proposed
syllabi in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number:
POS 360
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College: Social and Behavioral Sciences
4. Academic Unit:
3
Politics and International
Affairs
5. Current Student Learning Outcomes of the
course.
Show the proposed changes in this column (if
applicable). Bold the proposed changes in this
column to differentiate from what is not
This course focuses on “what?” “why?” and “how?” in the changing, and Bold with strikethrough what is
field of Comparative Politics. It is designed to prepare you being deleted. (Resources & Examples for
to do the following, in class discussions and in your writing:
(1) Apply key concepts to describe what important political
events you observe in different countries;
(2) Critique theories for explaining why these events occur,
and use the power of comparisons to rule in and out
possible causal explanations.
(3) Evaluate possible causal pathways—that is, how
certain causes might lead to certain outcomes—by drawing
on logic and evidence.
Developing Course Learning Outcomes)
6. Current catalog display in this column.
Show the proposed changes in this column
POS 360 COMPARATIVE POLITICS (3)
Description: Comparative analysis of selected
foreign governments: democratic, totalitarian,
and those in the process of developing. Letter
grade only.
Units: 3
Requirement Designation: Social and Political
Worlds
POS 260 360 COMPARATIVE POLITICS
(3)
Description: Comparative analysis of selected
foreign governments: democratic, totalitarian,
and those in the process of developing. Letter
grade only.
Units: 3
Effective Fall 2015
UNCHANGED
Liberal Studies Essential Skills: Critical Thinking
Prerequisite: POS 120 or POS 201 or
International Exchange Student Group
Requirement Designation: Social and Political
Worlds
Liberal Studies Essential Skills: Critical Thinking
Prerequisite: (POS 100 or POS 120) or POS
201 or International Exchange Student Group
*if there has been a previously approved UCC/UGC/ECCC change since the last catalog year, please copy the approved
text from the proposal form into this field.
7. Justification for course change.
After numerous course articulation meetings the last two years, it came to the department’s
attention that POS 360 (Comparative Politics) was not aligned with other state university’s
comparative politics classes, which are all lower division. Therefore, we want to renumber
Comparative Politics as POS 260. In the past here at NAU, various professors have taught
comparative politics as an advanced and intro class. However, for ease of transfer credits we
plan to keep the course as a lower-division course.
IN THE FOLLOWING SECTION, COMPLETE ONLY WHAT IS CHANGING
CURRENT
Current combined lecture & lab components:
Lecture:
Lab:
Current grading option:
letter grade
pass/fail
or both
Current repeat for additional units:
Yes
No
Current repeat for additional units in same term:
Yes
No
Current repeat max number of units:
PROPOSED
Proposed combined lecture & lab components:
Lecture:
Lab:
Proposed grading option:
letter grade
pass/fail
or both
Proposed repeat for additional units:
Yes
No
Proposed repeat for additional units same term:
Yes
No
Proposed repeat max number of units:
Current Instruction Mode:
In person
Online
Blended
Proposed Instruction Mode:
In person
Online
Blended
8. Is this course in any plan (major, minor, or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)? Yes
No
If yes, list and include evidence of notification to and/or response from each impacted academic unit
as necessary.
POS 360:
Environmental Science; B.S. (elective), International Affairs; B.A. (elective), Interdisciplinary
Studies-Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood, Environmental Sciences, Learning
& Pedagogy, Speech-Language Sciences & Technology; B. (elective), International
Engineering and Natural Science UCRT, International Studies Minor (elective)
9. Is there a related plan or sub plan change proposal being submitted?
Yes
No
If no, explain.
International Affairs; B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies- Early Childhood, Learning & Pedagogy,
Speech-Language Sciences & Technology; B. International Studies Minor
Environmental Sciences BS and International Engineering & Natural Sciences UCRT
proposals are not necessary
Effective Fall 2015
Answer 10-13 for UCC/ECCC only:
10. Is this course an approved Liberal Studies or Diversity course?
If yes, select all that apply.
Liberal Studies
Diversity
Yes
No
11. Do you want to remove the Liberal Studies or Diversity designation?
If yes, select all that apply.
Liberal Studies
Diversity
Both
Yes
No
12. Is this course listed in the Course Equivalency Guide?
Yes
No
Both
FLAGSTAFF MOUNTAIN CAMPUS
Scott Galland
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
2/5/2016
Date
Approvals:
Department Chair/Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC Approval
Date
EXTENDED CAMPUSES
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
Date
Approvals:
Academic Unit Head
Date
Division Curriculum Committee (Yuma, Yavapai, or Personalized Learning)
Date
Effective Fall 2015
Division Administrator in Extended Campuses (Yuma, Yavapai, or Personalized
Learning)
Date
Faculty Chair of Extended Campuses Curriculum Committee (Yuma, Yavapai, or
Personalized Learning)
Date
UGC Approval (Graduate-Level Courses Only)
Date
Chief Academic Officer; Extended Campuses (or Designee)
Date
CURRENT POS 360 SYLLABUS:
POS 360: Comparative Politics, Spring 2016 (3 credit hours)
Department of Politics and International Affairs, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Northern Arizona University
Professor Maiah Jaskoski
maiah.jaskoski@nau.edu
Office: SBS Castro 208; 928-523-8605
Office hours: 11:00–12:00 T/Th or by appointment
Class: 9:35–10:50 T/Th
Room: SBS West 103
Course Description and Learning Goals
This course focuses on “what?” “why?” and “how?” in the field of Comparative Politics. It is designed to prepare
you to do the following, in class discussions and in your writing: (1) apply key concepts to describe what
important political events you observe in different countries; (2) critique theories for explaining why these events
occur, and use the power of comparisons to rule in and out possible causal explanations; and (3) evaluate possible
causal pathways—that is, how certain causes might lead to certain outcomes—by drawing on logic and evidence.
Course Requirements and Assessments of Student Learning
In this course you will be evaluated based on active participation in class discussions, short written analyses of
assigned readings and newspaper articles, an outline of a research paper, the paper itself, and two exams. To
succeed in the course, you must read the required course readings before the day the readings are listed on the
syllabus, and you must attend class.
Active participation in Class Discussions (10 points): You are expected to read all required readings before class,
bring the day’s readings to class (in hardcopy or electronic form), and come to class prepared to engage actively
in discussion. “Active participation” means contributing to discussion by demonstrating you have read and
thought about readings.
Four Analyses of Assigned Readings and News Articles (5 points each; 20 points total): You will write and
post on the BB Learn course shell “Discussion Board” four short analyses. Each analysis will be between 250 and
350 words in length and will examine one or more of the required readings for the next class session and connect
it/them to current events, drawing on a recent news article of your choice. Analyses will be viewable by all
students in the course. They are due by 8:00 p.m. the night before the class session. Each student must submit two
analyses before spring break and two after spring break. Other than these constraints, you may choose when to
Effective Fall 2015
submit each analysis. Any late submission will receive 0 points. I will post in the “Course Information” folder in
BB Learn (at https://bblearn.nau.edu/) instructions for submitting analyses and further information about grading
standards for the analyses.
Research Paper (Detailed outline: 10 points; Paper: 20 points): You are to write a 10–15-page paper drawing
on scholarly sources. It must be about some aspect of politics in one or more country(ies). If you write about the
United States, you must compare it with another country. The paper may not focus on relations between countries.
More instructions and grading standards for the outline and paper will be posted in the “Course Information”
folder in BB Learn.
Exams (mid-term: 20 points; final: 20 points): Each exam will include essay questions. The exams will on be
in-class, open-book, and open-note. You will have little or no time to refer to sources during the tests, so advance
preparation is essential.
Scale for Course Grade
Points
93–100
90–92.9
87–89.9
83–86.9
80–82.9
77–79.9
Points
73–76.9
70–72.9
67–69.9
63–66.9
60–62.9
Below 60
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
Letter Grade
C
CD+
D
DF
Late Assignment Policy
Any late outline or research paper will automatically be docked a full grade. For example, if the quality of your
product is an A-, but you submit it an hour after the deadline, you will instead receive a B-. After 24 hours, the
assignment will be docked two grades, and so on. Any short analysis submitted after the deadline will be given 0
points.
Attendance Policy
Missing class frequently interferes with a student’s grasp of the course material, thus adversely affecting the
quality of his or her contributions during class and written work. If you are unable to attend a class session, you
are responsible for (1) reading all assigned readings for the missed session and (2) meeting with another student
in the class to catch up on the content of the missed lecture and discussion. If after doing the readings and meeting
with another student you have questions about the material covered during the missed class session, I will be
happy to discuss your questions with you during office hours.
Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism on an assignment or exam will result in a “0” on the assignment and an “F” in the course. If you do
not know what plagiarism is, see me immediately. Some basic rules:
 If you use the exact words from a source, place those words between quotation marks, and reference the
source, including the exact page(s) on which you found the quotation.
 If you paraphrase in your own words information that is not common knowledge (e.g., the years someone
was President of a national government) or an author’s idea, do not use quotation marks but do reference
the source, including the exact page(s).
Effective Fall 2015


Merely tweaking some words of text is not paraphrasing in your own words.
These rules apply to both paper and electronic—including Internet—sources; to published and
unpublished sources; and to sources produced by others and by you.
Internet Policy
YOU MAY NOT GO ONLINE ON ANY DEVICE DURING CLASS, with one exception: you may use a
laptop or tablet to view readings on BB Learn. If I find out that during class you have been online on a laptop/tablet
for another reason, or online on another device at all, you will lose participation points and you will no longer be
able to bring a laptop or tablet to class.
Required Readings
You must obtain the following textbook for this course (be sure to get the 2nd edition):
J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood, Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases, 2nd
ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015).
The other required readings are in the BB Learn course shell, in “Course Content.”
Course Schedule1
I.
INTRODUCTION
January 19th, Tuesday: Review of syllabus (no assigned readings)
January 21st, Thursday: What Is Comparative Politics? (43 pp.)
 Dickovick and Eastwood (“D&E”), Chs. 1, 2 [43 pp.]
II.
THE STATE
January 26th, Tuesday: Conceptualizing the State (28 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 3, 47–57 only.
 H. H. Gerth and C.Wright Mills, eds. 1946. From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology. New York, NY:
Oxford University Press. “Politics as a Vocation,” 77–87 only.
 O’Neill, P. H. 2007. Essentials of Comparative Politics, 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company,
20–25.
January 28th, Thursday: State Building (25 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 3, 57–68 only. [12 pp.]
 Herbst, J. 2010 [1990]. “War and the State in Africa.” In P. H. O’Neill and R. Rogowski, Essential
Readings in Comparative Politics, 3rd ed., 28–43. W. W. Norton & Company.
February 2nd, Tuesday: Problematizing “The State” (25 pp.)
 O’Donnell, G. 1993. “On the State, Democratization and Some Conceptual Problems: A Latin American
View with Glances at Some Postcommunist Countries.” World Development 21, no. 8: 1355–1369. Read
pp. 1355–1361 only. [7 pp.]
 Donahue, J. D. 1989. The Privatization Decision: Public Ends, Private Means. New York: Basic Books,
Inc., 5–8. [4 pp.]
 Jaskoski, M. 2012. “Public Security Forces with Private Funding: Local Army Entrepreneurship in Peru
and Ecuador.” Latin American Research Review 47, no. 2: 77–99. Read pp. 79–90 only. [14 pp.]
February 4th, Thursday: Library Research Instruction
Meet in Cline Library’s Main Desk seating area
III.
POLITICAL ECONOMY
February 9th, Tuesday: Classical Writings on Capitalism and the Market (25 pp.)
1
There may be minor adjustments to the assigned reading list, during the course of the semester. Any changes will be announced during
seminar.
Effective Fall 2015

Smith, A. 1776. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Excerpts reprinted in:
Barma, N. H., and S. K. Vogel. 2007. Political Economy Reader: Markets as Institutions, 27–40. New
York: Routledge. [14 pp.]
 Marx, K., and F. Engels. 1978 [1848]. “Manifesto of the Communist Party.” In R. C. Tucker, Marx-Engels
Reader, 2nd ed. W. W. Norton & Company, 473–483 only. [11 pp.]
February 11th, Thursday: States and Markets in the Advanced Industrial World (19 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 4, 71–76 only. [6 pp.]
 Orvis, S., and C. A. Drogus. Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context. Ch. 5,
196–208 only. [13 pp.]
February 16th, Tuesday: States and Markets—U.S. in Comparative Perspective (29 pp.)
 Orvis and Drogus, Ch. 5, 225–236 only. [12 pp.]
 Rein, L. 2015. “Should the Postal Service be Sold to Save it?” Washington Post, September 28. [3 pp.]
 “Sheingate, A. 2009. Why Can’t Americans See the State?” The Forum 7 (4): 1–14.
February 18th, Thursday: Developing Countries (27 pp.)
 Lim, T. C. 2006. Doing Comparative Politics: An Introduction to Approaches and Issues. Boulder: Lynne
Rienner. Ch. 4, 97–124. [27 pp.]
February 23rd, Tuesday: The “Developmental State” (32 pp.)
 Orvis and Drogus, Ch. 5, 208–215 only. [8 pp.]
 Evans, P. 1987. “Class, State, and Dependence in East Asia: Lessons for Latin Americanists.” In F. Deyo,
ed., Political Economy of the New Asian Industrialism, 203–226. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
[24 pp.]
IV.
REGIMES
February 25th, Thursday: Democracy and Democratization (38 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 6. [21 pp.]
 Lipset, S. M. 1959. “Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development and Politica
Legitimacy.” American Political Science Review, 53(1): 69–105. Read pp. 69–85 only. [17 pp.]
March 1st, Tuesday: Democratization in Africa (16 pp.)
 Bratton, M., and N. van de Walle. 1994. “Neopatrimonial Regimes and Political Transitions in Africa.” World
Politics 46, no. 4 (July): 453–489. Read pp. 453–468 only. [16 pp.]
March 3rd, Thursday: Authoritarian Regimes and Democratic Breakdown (36 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 7, 146–166 only. [21 pp.]
 Bellin, E. 2004. “The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East: Exceptionalism in Comparative
Perspective.” Comparative Politics 36, no. 2 (January): 139–157. [15 pp.]
March 8th, Tuesday: Mid-term (in class)
March 10th, Thursday: Competitive Authoritarianism (14 pp.)
 Levitsky, S., and L. A. Way. 2002. “The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism.” Journal of Democracy
13, no. 2 (April): 51–65. [14 pp.]
March 14–18: Spring Break
V.
FORMAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
March 22nd, Tuesday: Constitutions and Constitutional Design (36 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 8, 172–192 only. [21 pp.]
 Stepan, A. 1999. “Federalism and Democracy: Beyond the U.S. Model.” Journal of Democracy 10, no. 4
(October): 19–39. [15 pp.]
Effective Fall 2015
March 24, Thursday: Independent Research/Writing
March 29th, Tuesday: Legislatures (37 pp.); Research paper outline due
 D&E, Ch. 9, 199–222 only. [24 pp.]
 Orvis and Drogus, Ch. 7, 373–379 and 386–391 only. [13 pp.]
March 31, Thursday: Independent Research/Writing
April 5th, Tuesday: Executives (33 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 10. [24 pp.]
 Lijphart, A. 1996. “Constitutional Choices for New Democracies.” Reprinted in: O’Neil and Rogowski,
Essential Readings, 3rd ed., 161–170 [9 pp.].
VI.
POLITICAL PARTIES AND PARTY SYSTEMS
April
Thursday: Logics and Trajectories of Party Systems (29 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 11, 253–274 only. [22 pp.]
 Orvis and Drogus, Ch. 7, 337–343 only. [7 pp.]
April 12th, Tuesday: Party Loyalty (19 pp.)
 Wittenberg, J. 2006. Crucibles of Political Loyalty: Church Institutions and Electoral Continuity in
Hungary. Cambridge University Press. “Introduction.” [19 pp.]
7th,
April 14th, Thursday: Party Loyalty, continued (38 pp.)
 Wittenberg, J. 2006. Crucibles of Political Loyalty: Church Institutions and Electoral Continuity in
Hungary. Cambridge University Press. Ch. 4, “The Battle for Souls, 1948–1956.” [38 pp.]
VII. REVOLUTIONS AND CONTENTION
April 19th, Tuesday: Revolutions (39 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 12. [24 pp.]
 Skocpol, T. 1994. “Rentier State and Shi’a Islam in the Iranian Revolution.” In Skocpol, Social
Revolutions in the Modern World, 240–258. Cambridge University Press. [15 pp.]
April 21st, Thursday: Insurgency and Greed (21 pp.)
 Ross, M. L. 2003. “Oil, Drugs, and Diamonds: The Varying Roles of Natural Resources in Civil War.” In
K. Ballentine and J. Sherman eds., The Political Economy of Armed Conflict: Beyond Greed and
Grievance, 47–70. Lynne Rienner. [21 pp.]
VIII. CULTURE, IDENTITY, AND POLITICS
April 26th, Tuesday: Fallacy of Primordialism (32 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 13, 305–320 only. [16 pp.]
 Posner, D. N. 2004. “The Political Salience of Cultural Difference: Why Chewas and Tumbukas Are
Allies in Zambia and Adversaries in Malawi.” American Political Science Review 98, no. 4 (November):
529–545 [16 pp.]
April 28th, Thursday: Language (12 pp.); Research paper due
 Laitin, D. D. 1993. “The Game Theory of Language Regimes.” International Political Science Review 14,
no. 3 (July): 227–239. [12 pp.]
May 3rd, Tuesday: Religion and Democracy (32 pp.)
 D&E, Ch. 15. [22 pp.]
 Stepan, A. C. 2000. “Religion, Democracy, and the ‘Twin Tolerations.’” Journal of Democracy 11, no. 4
(October): 37–57. Read pp. 37–46 only. [10 pp.]
IX.
CONCLUSIONS
May 5, Thursday: Course Wrap-Up (no readings)
Effective Fall 2015
Final exam: Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 7:30–9:30 a.m.
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
POLICY STATEMENTS FOR COURSE SYLLABI
(Statements are also available online at https://nau.edu/coe/syllabi-template/)
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy prohibits sexual harassment and assault, and
discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation,
gender identity, disability, or veteran status by anyone at this university. Retaliation of any kind as a result of
making a complaint under the policy or participating in an investigation is also prohibited. The Director of the
Office of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity (AA/EO) serves as the university’s compliance officer for
affirmative action, civil rights, and Title IX, and is the ADA/504 Coordinator. AA/EO also assists with
religious accommodations. You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office or from the
NAU’s Affirmative Action website nau.edu/diversity/. If you have questions or concerns about this policy, it is
important that you contact the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (928-523-5181), or
NAU’s Office of Affirmative Action (928) 523-3312 (voice), (928) 523-9977 (fax), (928) 523-1006 (TTD) or
aaeo@nau.edu.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability Resources
(DR) at 523-8773 (voice) or 523-6906 (TTY), dr@nau.edu (e-mail) or 928-523-8747 (fax). Students needing
academic accommodations are required to register with DR and provide required disability related
documentation. Although you may request an accommodation at any time, in order for DR to best meet your
individual needs, you are urged to register and submit necessary documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks
prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. DR is strongly committed to the needs of student with
disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design. Concerns or questions related to the accessibility of
programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action and
Equal Opportunity (523-3312).
ACADEMIC CONTACT HOUR POLICY
Based on the Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-224), for every
unit of credit, a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of three hours of work per week, including
but not limited to class time, preparation, homework, studying.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Integrity is expected of every member of the NAU community in all academic undertakings. Integrity entails a
firm adherence to a set of values, and the values most essential to an academic community are grounded in
honesty with respect to all intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Academic integrity is expected not only in
formal coursework situations, but in all University relationships and interactions connected to the educational
process, including the use of University resources. An NAU student’s submission of work is an implicit
declaration that the work is the student’s own. All outside assistance should be acknowledged, and the
student’s academic contribution truthfully reported at all times. In addition, NAU students have a right to expect
academic integrity from each of their peers.
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying potential violations of the university’s
academic integrity policy. Instances of potential violations are adjudicated using the process found in the
university Academic Integrity Policy (https://policy.nau.edu/policy/policy.aspx?num=100601).
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
Effective Fall 2015
The Responsible Conduct of Research policy is intended to ensure that NAU personnel including NAU students
engaged in research are adequately trained in the basic principles of ethics in research. Additionally, this policy
assists NAU in meeting the RCR training and compliance requirements of the National Science Foundation
(NSF)-The America COMPETES Act (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in
Technology, Education and Science); 42 U.S.C 18620-1, Section 7009, and the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) policy on the instruction of the RCR (NOT-OD-10-019; “Update on the Requirement for Instruction in
the Responsible Conduct of Research”). For more information on the policy and the training activities required
for personnel and students conducting research, at NAU, visit: http://nau.edu/Research/Compliance/ResearchIntegrity/.
SENSITIVE COURSE MATERIALS
University education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus, it necessarily involves
engagement with a wide range of information, ideas, and creative representations. In the course of college
studies, students can expect to encounter—and critically appraise—materials that may differ from and perhaps
challenge familiar understandings, ideas, and beliefs. Students are encouraged to discuss these matters with
faculty.
CLASSROOM DISRUPTION POLICY
Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all participants to preserve an
atmosphere conducive to a safe and positive learning environment. Part of that obligation implies the
responsibility of each member of the NAU community to maintain an environment in which the behavior of any
individual is not disruptive. Instructors have the authority and the responsibility to manage their classes in
accordance with University regulations. Instructors have the right and obligation to confront disruptive behavior
thereby promoting and enforcing standards of behavior necessary for maintaining an atmosphere conducive to
teaching and learning. Instructors are responsible for establishing, communicating, and enforcing reasonable
expectations and rules of classroom behavior. These expectations are to be communicated to students in the
syllabus and in class discussions and activities at the outset of the course. Each student is responsible for
behaving in a manner that supports a positive learning environment and that does not interrupt nor disrupt the
delivery of education by instructors or receipt of education by students, within or outside a class. The complete
classroom disruption policy is in Appendices of NAU’s Student Handbook
(http://nau.edu/uploadedFiles/Administrative/EMSA_Sites/Folder_Templates/_Forms/Classroom_Disruption_P
olicy.pdf).
Effective Summer 2014
Approved UCC – 1/28/14
Approved UGC – 2/12/14
PROPOSED POS 260 SYLLABUS:
Comparative Politics (POS 260)
Fall Semester 2016
T/Thr 12:45-2pm
SBS-W 205
Paul E. Lenze, Jr., Ph.D.
paul.lenze@nau.edu
(928) 523-6601
Office: SBS-W 278
Office Hrs: 9-Noon, T/Thr or by appt.
Description:
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the study of comparative politics. It is designed to provide an overview
of the most important theoretical approaches to the subject as well as examine the political history of individual countries.
Given the global changes since the end of the Cold War, and more recently, the events of September 11, the course focuses
on those broad issues which dominate contemporary comparative politics: the ability of the state to govern its citizens, the
Effective Fall 2015
importance of political culture, the establishment and maintenance of political legitimacy, and the processes of
democratization. Throughout the semester, we will compare how different societies have attempted to deal with these
issues.
Course Learning Goals
This course focuses on “what?” “why?” and “how?” in the field of Comparative Politics. It is designed to prepare you to do
the following, in class discussions and in your writing: (1) apply key concepts to describe what important political events
you observe in different countries; (2) critique theories for explaining why these events occur, and use the power of
comparisons to rule in and out possible causal explanations; and (3) evaluate possible causal pathways—that is, how
certain causes might lead to certain outcomes—by drawing on logic and evidence.
Books:
Patrick O’Neil. Essentials of Comparative Politics. Third Edition. ISBN: 978-0393933765 (O’Neil)
The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World.
Times Books. 978-0805089134
Paul Collier (2009). War, Guns and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places. Harper Perennial: 978-0-06-147964-9
The books can be found at the NAU Bookstore and online at Amazon.com, Barnes N Noble, etc. Please inform me if you
have problems acquiring the books.
Assignments
Participation & Attendance
Your daily participation is one of the most important features of this course. Each of us will bring different ideas and bits of
knowledge to class and the course is designed for us to share our opinions in an intense, yet polite, manner. I do not claim
to dispense “Truth” with respect to comparative politics, and it is my hope that we will learn from each other over the course
of the semester. Thus, you should be prepared for class and able to participate in discussion.
Attendance will be taken randomly throughout the semester. While attendance is not mandatory, it will be used in grading
purposes when a student falls a few points short of the next highest grade level (i.e. an 89 could become an A with good
attendance and participation). Also, you’ll get more out of the class by attending lectures, because the exams will cover
material from both lectures and the readings. If you are not in class, I still expect you to know the material for the exam.
Response Papers
For each section of the course material you will write a response paper to synthesize the material from the books, my
lectures, and discussions. There will be 3 response papers and I will post a question for you to answer in 4-5 pages on
BbLearn a week prior to the due date notated in the course schedule below. Late papers will be docked one letter grade
per day late (unless documented excuse is given).
Take-Home Midterm Exam
The midterm will be a 6-8 pg. essay due on Thursday, February 27, 2014 in class. I will post the question on BbLearn on
Thursday, February 20th. No emailed exams will be accepted. A hard copy must be turned in. Late exams are docked
one letter grade per day late and will not be accepted after three days (unless documented excuse is given).
Take-Home Final Exam
The final will be a 6-8 page paper responding to a question I will post on BbLearn. The final will be cumulative and is due
during our scheduled final exam time, Tuesday May 6th between 12:30-2:30pm, in my office (SBS-W 278). No emailed, or
late exams will be accepted. You must turn in a hard copy.
Extra Credit
There will possibly be opportunities for extra credit. I will inform you if, and when, these opportunities arise.
Keeping Informed
While there is no requirement that you pay closer attention to the news this semester, you will get much more out of this
class if you try to read at least one major newspaper a day. You can access the following newspapers online for free: The
New York Times (www.nytimes.com), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com), and The Los Angeles Times
(www.latimes.com). Weekly or quarterly periodicals such as The New Yorker, The Economist, and Foreign Affairs are also
excellent sources of information.
Effective Fall 2015
Grading:
Assignments/Exams
Percentage
Participation/Attendance
10%
3 Response Papers
30%
Take Home Midterm Paper
30 %
Take Home Final Paper
30%
_____________________________________________________
100 %
Grade Scale(Points): A (100-90), B (89-80), C (79-70), D (69-60), F (59 & Below).
Information & Policies:
Course information and materials are posted on our courses’ NAU Blackboard webpage: https://bblearn.nau.edu/. You are
responsible for regularly checking our course webpage for updates. All assignments will be submitted online through our
course webpage. NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the
safety of all individuals within the university. The policy can be found on NAU’s Affirmative Action website:
http://home.nau.edu/diversity/. If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting
the office of Disability Support Services website: http://www2.nau.edu/dss/. The university takes a serious view of
violations of academic integrity. For the complete policy refer to:
http://home.nau.edu/studentlife/handbook/appendix_g.asp. The Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy
(ABOR Handbook, 2‐206, Academic Credit) states: “an hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time…at least
15 contact hours of recitation, lecture, discussion, testing or evaluation, seminar, or colloquium as well as a minimum of
30 hours of student homework is required for each unit of credit.” The reasonable interpretation of this policy is that for
every credit hour, a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of two additional hours of work per week; e.g.,
preparation, homework, studying.
Statement of Disability Policy:
If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability Resources (DR) at 5238773 (voice) or 523-6906 (TTY), dr@nau.edu (e-mail) or 928-523-8747 (fax). Students needing academic accommodations
are required to register with DR and provide required disability related documentation. Although you may request an
accommodation at any time, in order for DR to best meet your individual needs, you are urged to register and submit
necessary documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. DR is strongly
committed to the needs of student with disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design. Concerns or questions related
to the accessibility of programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action
and Equal Opportunity (523-3312).
Academic Integrity:
The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community,
NAU’s administration, faculty, staff and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed
to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the education process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that
academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore
responsible for conducting themselves in an academically honest manner.
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members
then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete
policy on academic integrity is in Appendix G of NAU’s Student Handbook.
http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbookdishonesty.htm
Course Outline, Reading Assignments and Due Dates:
*Instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus as needed.
1/14
Course Introduction & Familiarization
1/16
What is Comparative Politics?
O’Neill (Chpts 1 & 11)
Effective Fall 2015
1/21, 1/23
The State & its Institutions
O’Neill (Chpt 2)
Theories of Comparative Politics
1/28, 1/30
Understanding Political Development 1: Modernization and Dependency Theories
O’Neill (Chpt 4)
2/4, 2/6
Understanding Political Development 2: Civil Society and Nationalism
O’Neill (Chpt 3)
Muller, Jerry Z. (2008), “Us vs. Them”, Foreign Affairs, 87.2, pp. 18-35.*
2/11, 2/13
Understanding Political Development 3: Authoritarianism
Diamond (Chpt 11)
O’Neil (Chpt 6)
2/13:
Response Paper #1 Due
Democracy: An Idea that Rules the World?
2/18, 2/20
Democracy—Definitions
Diamond (Intro & Chpt 1)
O’Neil (Chpt 5)
*Midterm Distributed
2/25, 2/27
State Institutions & Electoral Systems
Diamond (Chpt 15)
O’Neil (Chpt 7)
2/27:
Midterm Due in Class
3/4-3/13
Democratic Transitions
Diamond (Chpts 2-4)
O’Neil (Chpt 10)
3/18, 3/20
Effective Fall 2015
SPRING BREAK—NO CLASS
3/25-4/3
Democratic Consolidation 1: Civil Society & Political Culture
Schedler, Andreas, (1998) What is Democratic Consolidation?”, Journal of Democracy,
9.2: 91-107.*
4/8-4/17
Democratic Consolidation 2: Institutions
Diamond (Chpts 7, 9 & 13)
O’Neil (Chpt 8)
4/17:
Response Paper #2 Due
4/22-4/29
Failed States: Afghanistan & Iraq
O’Neil (Chpt 9)
Collier (All)
4/29:
Response Paper #3 Due
5/1
International Intervention
Stewart, Rory (2009) “The Irresistible Illusion” London Review of Books*
*Final Exam Distributed
5/6
Final Exam Paper Due in SBS-W 278 (my office) between 12:30-2:30pm
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
POLICY STATEMENTS FOR COURSE SYLLABI
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy prohibits sexual harassment and assault, and discrimination and
harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity,
disability, or veteran status by anyone at this university. Retaliation of any kind as a result of making a complaint under the
policy or participating in an investigation is also prohibited. The Director of the Equity and Access Office (EAO) serves as
the university’s compliance officer for affirmative action, civil rights, and Title IX, and is the ADA/504 Coordinator. EAO also
assists with religious accommodations. You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office or from NAU’s
Equity and Access Office website nau.edu/diversity/. If you have questions or concerns about this policy, it is important that
you contact the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (928-523-5181), or NAU’s Equity and Access
Office (928) 523-3312 (voice), (928) 523-9977 (fax), (928) 523-1006 (TTD) or equityandaccess@nau.edu.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability Resources (DR) at 5238773 (voice) or 523-6906 (TTY), dr@nau.edu (e-mail) or 928-523-8747 (fax). Students needing academic accommodations
are required to register with DR and provide required disability related documentation. Although you may request an
accommodation at any time, in order for DR to best meet your individual needs, you are urged to register and submit
necessary documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. DR is strongly
committed to the needs of student with disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design. Concerns or questions related to
the accessibility of programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action
and Equal Opportunity (523-3312).
ACADEMIC CONTACT HOUR POLICY
Based on the Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-224), for every unit of credit,
a student should expect, on average, to do a minimum of three hours of work per week, including but not limited to class
time, preparation, homework, studying.
Effective Fall 2015
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Integrity is expected of every member of the NAU community in all academic undertakings. Integrity entails a firm
adherence to a set of values, and the values most essential to an academic community are grounded in honesty with
respect to all intellectual efforts of oneself and others. Academic integrity is expected not only in formal coursework
situations, but in all University relationships and interactions connected to the educational process, including the use of
University resources. An NAU student’s submission of work is an implicit declaration that the work is the student’s own.
All outside assistance should be acknowledged, and the student’s academic contribution truthfully reported at all times. In
addition, NAU students have a right to expect academic integrity from each of their peers.
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying potential violations of the university’s academic
integrity policy. Instances of potential violations are adjudicated using the process found in the university Academic
Integrity Policy.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
The Responsible Conduct of Research policy is intended to ensure that NAU personnel including NAU students engaged
in research are adequately trained in the basic principles of ethics in research. Additionally, this policy assists NAU in
meeting the RCR training and compliance requirements of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-The America
COMPETES Act (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science); 42
U.S.C 18620-1, Section 7009, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy on the instruction of the RCR (NOT-OD-10019; “Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research”). For more information on the
policy and the training activities required for personnel and students conducting research, at NAU,
visit: http://nau.edu/Research/Compliance/Research-Integrity/
SENSITIVE COURSE MATERIALS
University education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus, it necessarily involves engagement with
a wide range of information, ideas, and creative representations. In the course of college studies, students can expect to
encounter—and critically appraise—materials that may differ from and perhaps challenge familiar understandings, ideas,
and beliefs. Students are encouraged to discuss these matters with faculty.
CLASSROOM DISRUPTION POLICY
Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all participants to preserve an atmosphere
conducive to a safe and positive learning environment. Part of that obligation implies the responsibility of each member of
the NAU community to maintain an environment in which the behavior of any individual is not disruptive. Instructors have
the authority and the responsibility to manage their classes in accordance with University regulations. Instructors have the
right and obligation to confront disruptive behavior thereby promoting and enforcing standards of behavior necessary for
maintaining an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning. Instructors are responsible for establishing,
communicating, and enforcing reasonable expectations and rules of classroom behavior. These expectations are to be
communicated to students in the syllabus and in class discussions and activities at the outset of the course. Each student
is responsible for behaving in a manner that supports a positive learning environment and that does not interrupt nor
disrupt the delivery of education by instructors or receipt of education by students, within or outside a class. The complete
classroom disruption policy is in Appendices of NAU’s Student Handbook.
August 25, 2015
Effective Fall 2015