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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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/
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