INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS PL.SC. 003U (HONORS) Mr. Myers Office: 319 Pond Lab Phone: 865-1973 e-mail: djm8@psu.edu PENN STATE UNIVERSITY Fall 2011 234 Theatre Bldg. M/W/F. 9:05-9:55am DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE: Political Science 3 is a general survey course that introduces novice students to the comparative politics sub-field of political science. This is the honors variant of that course. It is intended to examine how we compare political action and behavior, and to acquaint students with the domestic political institutions, culture, policy processes and performance of selected countries. The countries emphasized in this course are Mexico, France, Brazil and the United States of America. PREREQUISITES: NONE REQUIRED TEXTS The following required texts are available at one of the local bookstores: 1) Almond, Gabriel, G. Bingham Powell, Jr., Kaare Strom & Russell J. Dalton. 2010. 10th ed. Comparative Politics Today: A World View. New York: Longman. 2) Balducci, David 2011. Hell’s Corner. Lanham. Rowman & Littlefield. 3) Galvan, Jose L. 2009. 4rd Writing Literature Reviews. Pyrczak Publishing. NEWSPAPERS AND CURRENT EVENTS Students enrolled in this course are required to keep abreast of current events in the countries that this course emphasizes. This is best accomplished by reading one the quality national newspapers; such as the Christian Science Monitor, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times or the Miami Herald. Another option is to use the three news web sites linked to the Longman comparative politics web site www.ablongman.com/comparative . You may also want to check out the following television news sites on the internet: CNN.com, MSNBC.com and FoxNews.com. Lectures and in class discussions will incorporate current events. Any and all material of this type discussed in class is fair game for the exams. SUPPLEMENTAL Other required materials are available for download from the course web site, which can be accessed either from Professor Myers’ home page or directly from the electronic reserve at Pattee. All electronic reserve materials for Pattee Library are accessible through the online Cat. Go to http://www.lias.psu.edu/ and click on the link to the Enhanced Cat, then click on the blue Course Reserves button. A search screen will appear, and students can search for reserves by instructor name, course number or course name. As the reserve list for Pl.Sci.03u contains more than one item, click on the Detail Button to the right of the course title to display the link to an electronic reserve document. Click on the Help button at any time for more information. The syllabus specifies the times at which the materials to be downloaded come into play. 1 COURSE SCHEDULE Part “A”: Introduction: System Process and Policy Week 1 (August 22 - 26) Session 1 - Procedures, Readings and Requirements Session 2 - Issues and Comparison in Comparative Politics Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cps. 1; Session 3 – Comparing Political Systems Readings: Comparative Politics Today cp. 2; Week 2 (August 28 - September 2) Session 1 - - Political Culture and Political Socialization Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cp. 3. Session 2 – Interest Articulation; Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cp. 4; Session 3 – no class Week 3 (September 5 - 9) Session 1 – Labor Day Holiday Session 2- Interest Aggregation & Political Parties Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cp. 5. Session 3 - Presentation of the Written Assignment and topic selection preliminaries Readings: Writing Literature Reviews, Galvin. pp. 1-55. Week 4 (September 12 - 16) Session 1 The United States in Comparative Perspective Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cp. 19; Session 2 – Government & Policy Making Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cp. 6. Session 3 – Implementation of Public Policy Readings: Comparative Politics Today, cp 7. Week 5 (September 19 - 23) Session 1 – “In class” preliminary reports on team written assignments; Readings: Writing Literature Reviews, Galvan, pp. 71-99; Part “B”: Concepts Applied: Country/Area Studies Mexico Session 2 - Introduction to Mexican Politics Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 427-434; gain familiarity with the Mexican internet web sites (p. 468) and browse coverage of Mexico for one week in the Miami Herald; Also, begin reading the novel by David Balducci, Hell’s Corner Session 3 - Student Presentations (Group # 1) and discussion Beginning with this session, most Friday classes (while we are studying Mexico) will be devoted to discussion of the issues covered in lecture and relevant articles that 2 appeared in the Miami Herald on Mexico. Half of the session will be devoted to presentations by the student teams. Week 6 (September 26 - 30) Session 1 - Political Culture and Political Socialization & Political Recruitment in Mexico Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 435-440, 448-49; Session 2 – Mexico: Contemporary Political Structures & Institutions Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 440-448, continue with Balducci; Session 3 - Student Presentations (Group # 2) and discussion Week 7 (October 3 - 7) Session 1 – Mexico: Interest Groups, Political Parties & Elections Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 449-458; Session 2 – Mexican Policy Implementation & Performance Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 458-464; ** All student teams for the written project must complete their conference with the professor by the close of business on Wednesday, October 5. Session 3 – Mexican migrants as a public policy issue in the United States and Mexico Readings: Ganster & Lorey pp. 175-208 (available from electronic reserves. Week 8 (October 10 – 14) Session 1 – Hell’s Corner and U.S. - Mexican Relations (Class Discussion) Readings: Finish Hell’s Corner by David Balducci; Session 2 - Mexico: Alternative Political Futures Readings. Comparative Politics Today, pp. 464-470. Session 3 - Student Presentations (Group # 3) and review for Examination #1 Week 9 (October 17 – 21) Session 1 – First or Midterm Examination (6:00pm – 8:00pm in 110 Borland): Coverage: Concepts and Applications in Mexico (25% of total grade) France Session 2 - Introduction to French Politics & Government Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 196-202; gain familiarity with French internet web sites (p. 241) and browse coverage of France for one week in the New York Times: Session 3 – France: Political Culture, Political Socialization and Political Recruitment Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 202-211; Week 10 (October 24 – 28) Session 1 – France: Contemporary Government Structures and Policy Making Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 205-208; 227-235; Session 2 – France: Interest Articulation, Political Parties & Elections Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 211-227; Session 3 - Student Presentations (Group # 4) and discussion; check articles on France in the New York Times for the preceding week. 3 Week 11 (October 31 – November 4) Session 1 - France: Policy Implementation and Performance Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 235-238; Writing Literature Reviews, pp. 99-121; Session 2 - Presentation and discussion of tables summarizing literature for written project Readings: Session 3 - Presentation and discussion of tables summarizing literature for written project Week 12. (November 7 - 11) Session 1 - Presentation and discussion of tables summarizing literature for written project Session 2 - France: International Environments & the Future Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 238-240 Session 3 - Student Presentations (Group #5) and discussion; check articles on France in the New York Times for the preceding week. Brazil Week 13 (November 14 - 18) Session 1 - Introduction to Brazilian Politics. Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 470-479; gain familiarity with Brazilian internet web sites (p. 518) and browse coverage of Brazil for one week in the Miami Herald; Session 2: Brazil: Political Culture, Political Socialization and Political Recruitment Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 483-493; Session 3 – Student Presentations (Group #6), and discussion November 21 – 25 Thanksgiving Break Week 14 (November 28 - December 2) Session 1- Brazil: Contemporary Government Structures and Policy Making Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 479-483; 504-506; Session 2 – Brazil: Interest Articulation, Participation, Political Parties and Elections Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 493-503; *** Literature Review (written work related to the issues associated with Mexican - United States border is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, November 30) Session 3 - Student Presentations (Group #7), and discussion Week 15 (December 6 - 10) Session 1 – Brazil: Policy Implementation and Performance Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 506-512; Session 2 - Brazil: International Environments & the Future Readings: Comparative Politics Today, pp. 513-516; Session 3 – Review for Final Examination “Comparing Politics in France and Brazil” (25% of total grade) Note: Student Evaluations of courses now take place on the web. 4 The time, place and date of the third examination (during examination week December 12 - 16) appears in the Penn State Final Examination Schedule. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LECTURES: It should be emphasized that the lectures and the reading assignments, although interrelated, are by no means identical, nor are they tied together by the same titles and rigid lockstep schedule. Generally, the lectures tend to deal with more precise topics and to be more interpretive, but less descriptive than the reading materials. Accordingly, the readings should be completed on schedule, and NOT after the lectures have been directed. OFFICE HOURS: Professor Myers' scheduled office hours are on Monday/Wednesday 10:05 – 11:35am in 319 Pond. Additional office hours can be scheduled by appointment. Students are urged to make regular use of the scheduled office hours of the professor. GRADES: For all students in the course, the final grade will be based approximately on these percentages: Midterm Examination Second or Final Examination Class Participation Written Exercise Conference with professor Presentation of summary table Final Review TOTAL - 25% - 25% - 15% - 5% - 5% - 25% 100% All examinations will include at least two critical essays and multiple-choice questions. The student will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of BOTH the material covered “in-class” and the assigned readings. Critical essay study questions will be provided prior to each scheduled examination. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES: 1. Attendance: It is expected that students will arrive at 234 Theatre Bldg. prior to 9:05am. Absence from the classes of this course, or for that matter in virtually any course, places the student at a disadvantage. It is the student's responsibility to overcome that disadvantage by: a) obtaining the notes on classroom lectures, preferably from at least two fellow students; b) making arrangements with the professor to complete missed work; c) when relevant, requesting a new test to be administered or for a short extension of a deadline IF the absence was a valid one (illness, death in the family, etc.); e) undertaking other remedial actions deemed appropriate. 2. Dropping the Course: Students who drop the course will do so with the grade on record at this time. 5 3. Due Dates and Times: Scheduled tests are administered on the stated date, in 234 Theatre Bldg. starting at 9:05 am; Written work instructions contain due dates for the required components. 4. Failure to meet ALL requirements: A student who fails to submit ALL written requirements for this course – specifically, the two scheduled tests and the written assignment -- has NOT met the requirements of this course. Failing to meet these requirements for this course will mean an "F" grade for the semester. In addition, informed and intelligent class participation is required. Attendance will be taken at the class discussion sessions. The team "in class" presentation will account for 9% of the total course grade, being assigned within the context of the 15% reserved for participation. The fundamental principle or ethic for this course is that the mature student accepts responsibility with accountability, as does the professor. 5. Make-ups: None. There will be no make-up tests in this class. In a genuine hardship case an entirely new test will be given. Since students who miss a test will have had additional time in which to study and prepare, that new test will include all new material assigned up to the date on which the new test is given. Academic Dishonesty The Department of Political Science, along with the College of the Liberal Arts and the University, takes violations of academic dishonesty seriously. Observing basic honesty in one's work, words, ideas, and actions is a principle to which all members of the community are required to subscribe. All course work by students is to be done on an individual basis unless an instructor clearly states that an alternative is acceptable. Any reference materials used in the preparation of any assignment must be explicitly cited. Students uncertain about proper citation are responsible for checking with their instructor. In an examination setting, unless the instructor gives explicit prior instructions to the contrary, whether the examination is in-class or take-home, violations of academic integrity shall consist but are not limited to any attempt to receive assistance from written or printed aids, or from any person or papers or electronic devices, or of any attempt to give assistance, whether the one so doing has completed his or her own work or not. Lying to the instructor or purposely misleading any Penn State administrator shall also constitute a violation of academic integrity. In cases of any violation of academic integrity it is the policy of the Department of Political Science to follow procedures established by the College of the Liberal Arts. More information on academic integrity and procedures followed for violation can be found at: http://www.la.psu.edu/CLA-Academic_Integrity/integrity.shtml Disabilities The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities and is committed to the policy that all people shall have equal access 6 to programs, facilities, and admissions without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation in this course or have questions about physical access, please tell the instructor as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be made for all students with disabilities, but it is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor early in the term. Do not wait until just before an exam to decide you want to inform the instructor of a learning disability; any accommodations for disabilities must be arranged well in advance. Visit our web site The Political Science Department continually upgrades its web site. In the undergraduate section you will find a wealth of information including course schedules, faculty office hours, faculty home pages describing their areas of teaching and research activities, answers to questions about advising, internship opportunities, announcements, and much, much, more. Check back often: we will continuously update our information about internships and career opportunities: http://polisci.la.psu.edu/ 7