PSCI 101 Introduction to Political Science
Spring 2011
TR 3:30- 4:45 Annex A, Room 109
Instructor: Elizabeth Kaknes,
Hours: TR 2:00- 3:00; and by appointment. Contacts: ekakn3lu@umw.edu.
You are strongly encouraged to visit my office during the above hours. I much prefer
friendly visits to e-mails.
1. Description of Course: This course introduces students to the study of politics. It
examines the various ways in which people struggle for and use power, ranging from the
broad ideologies on how power should be distributed, to specific national circumstances
affecting how power is used. The primary objectives of the course are to explicate the key
terms and concepts in political science, to analyze the dominant characteristics of major
political systems, to identify the methodological principles that promote critical political
analysis, and to enhance the communicational capacities of students.
1.1 Classroom guidelines: 1) Please use laptops wisely (only for note-taking). We are all
open to the temptation to answer emails and check sports scores instead of paying
attention. If you find yourself vulnerable to the call of the internet, please do not bring
your laptop to class. 2) Please sit in the *first five rows* of the hall. 3) This is a flexible
document, so there may be minor changes as we go along.
2. Assignments: Class participation (of the active and engaged variety) counts for 10% of
your final grade. I recognize that this course has many students enrolled; however your
participation is still required. A midterm exam counts for 30% of your final grade. Three
assignments, listed on the syllabus are worth 10% each (total 30%). The final exam is
worth 30% of your final grade. The dates of exams and assignments are listed below. I
will indicate in class the material to be covered on each test or exam.
2.1: Make-ups: Make-ups for assignments and exams are permitted as long as the
following criteria are in order: 1) Make-up is requested by the student before the
exam/assignment 2) failing this, documentation of a reasonable explanation of the
student’s inability to submit work/take exam must be supplied. Explanations are judged
to be reasonable at the instructor’s discretion. *NOTE: Technological excuses are not
reasonable. Save your work often. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please go
to the library or another campus computer lab to complete your work.
3. Grading Policy: The political opinions you express will not affect your grade.
Everything else matters, however; logic, effort, and substance are essential. “A” grades
seek to reward consistent, back-slapping excellence of form and content. They are
therefore reserved for the truly outstanding. In accordance with UMW guidelines, “C”
grades represent average work. UMW’s honor code is always in effect. All work must be
“pledged.”
Grades work like this: A 100-92; A- 91-90; B+ 89-88; B 87-82; B- 81-80; C+ 79-78; C
77-72; C- 71-70; D+ 69-68; D 67-62; D- 61-60; F 59 or less, rounded to the nearest
whole number.
I am happy to make arrangements for students with disabilities. Please contact me and
the Office of Disability Services at the start of the semester. All information will be held
in strict confidence.
4. Required Text: The UMW bookstore sells the latest edition of the following required
text.
Leon P. Baradat, Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact 10th edition.
5. Readings and lectures: Attend, keep up with the readings, and take good notes – this
will be crucial for exams. Note that the reading load is heavier at some times than others.
When my lectures depart from the readings, I will still hold you responsible for the
reading material. Readings not found in the required text will be posted on the course’s
Blackboard website or a listed web address. Websites are indicated in the syllabus.
Readings not found in the text are indicated by the last name of the author. On occasion, I
may add or subtract from the list of readings.
You are responsible for the following reading schedule:
Part I: Introductory Concepts:
A Ideology:
January 11 Introduction to the course. Definitions: What is ideology? (After class,
please read Baradat Ch. 1)
January 13 The Ideological Spectrum (Baradat, Ch. 2; Take the anonymous survey of
political attitudes found at the Pew Research Center’s website (http://typology.peoplepress.org/typology/). Read up on the typologies on that website, and please remember
your typology for class.)
B The State:
January 18 An Introduction (O’Neil)
January 20 Weber (excerpts from: Politics as a Vocation, Legitimate Authority)
C Nationalism:
January 25 Introduction (Baradat, Ch.3)
January 27 An Application (excerpt from Fearon and Laitin)
D Political Economy
February 1 An introduction (O’Neil)
Part II: Major Systems of Government
A. The Basics of Democracy: Theory and Practice:
February 3 Democratic Theory (Baradat, Ch.4)
February 8 Modern Democratic Systems, part 1(Baradat Ch. 5)
February 10 Modern Democratic Systems, part 2 (Federalist Papers, Declaration of
Independence, U.S. Constitution)
Assignment: As you read these historical documents, reflect on the nature of the
democratic system the authors envisioned, the theorists that influenced their vision and
the system that has resulted. There is no specific format for this assignment, but please
be sure that your comments are thoughtful and reflect your knowledge of the course
material we have read thus far.
February 15 The Liberal Democratic Process, introduction (Baradat Ch. 6)
February 17 *This day reserved for midterm review, catch up, etc.* (no assigned
readings)
February 22 MIDTERM
B. Non-Democratic Systems: Socialism and Fascism
February 24 Socialist Theory (Baradat Ch 8)
March 1 Spring Break
March 3 Spring Break
March 8 Applied Socialism (Baradat Ch 9, Fidel Castro, “When the People Rule”
Speech delivered on January 21, 1959, available at
http://www.marxists.org/history/cuba/archive/castro/1959/01/21.htm)
March 10 Fascism (Baradat Ch 10)
March 15 The Valuable Role of Dissent: ( Sunstein, “Why Societies Need Dissent” pp.
1-53)
March 17 How Do We Measure Regimes? Freedom in the World: Freedom House
rankings. Please read methodologies section, available at
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=351&ana_page=341&year=2008 )
March 22A Comparative Taxonomy of Non-Democratic Systems (Mehran Kamrava pp
89-101)
Assignment: Go online or to the library to research a non-democratic country of your
choosing
and classify its type of democracy according to the criteria in the Kamrava reading. Make
a list of five empirical justifications for your choice of coding. Submit on Blackboard and
be prepared to discuss your choice in class.
March 24 A Comparative Taxonomy of Democracy (Mehran Kamrava, pp 71-88)
Assignment: Repeat the exercise above, this time with a democratic country. Remember,
the regime need not still be in existence; a historical example is perfectly acceptable as
well. Please submit your work on Blackboard.
March 29 So, What IS Democracy (and what isn’t it?) (Schmitter and Karl, Sartori)
March 29 Transitions From Authoritarianism to Democracy (Pinkney, pp. 155-178)
March 31 Ideology in the Developing World (Baradat Ch 11)
April 5 Democracies in Development (excerpts from Inter-American Development Bank
publication, NY Times, “Ivory Coast Leader Softens Position in Crisis”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/world/africa/05ivory.html?_r=1&ref=world)
April 7 Does Economic Development Help Democracy? (Prezworski and Limongi)
April 12 ... or doesn’t it? (Boix and Stokes)
*Note: The readings for April 7 and 12 use statistics to substantiate their
arguments. Don’t worry about the analysis as much as the argument. We will work on
this together in class.
April 14 The Political Economy of Development: part 1 (Easterly, pp. 1-45)
April 19 The Political Economy of Development: part 2 (Easterly, pp. 47-69)
April 21 Last day of Class. This date reserved for review, catching up, etc.