POSC 120: Democracy and Dictatorship

Transcription

1 POSC 120: Democracy and Dictatorship Carleton College, Fall 2017 Professor Devashree Gupta Office: Willis 404 Telephone: x Skype: devashree.gupta1 Fall Term Office Hours Mondays, 11:15am-12:30pm Wednesdays, 11:15am-12:30pm Fridays, 11:00am-1:00pm And Skype by appointment Writing Assistant: Sam Haiken What do they know of England who only England know? Rudyard Kipling Every hundred feet the world changes. Roberto Bolaño Course Overview This class serves as an introduction to comparative politics, the area of political science that investigates the political dynamics of other countries. There are almost 200 independent states in the world, and within this group of countries, there is dazzling variety in institutional types, policies, political attitudes, levels of citizen participation, and economic performance. It is the starting premise of this class that no single model of political governance outperforms all others across the board. Instead, the beauty and the complexity of studying comparative politics involves grappling with how and why this diversity exists, and what the implications are for the people living in different societies. Some of the questions that we will consider this term include: How do we explain the existence of democratic and authoritarian countries? What makes a country more likely to be one or the other? How do different societies embed their particular values and social norms in the political rules of the game, and what consequences do these choices have for ordinary citizens who live in those countries? How do different institutional configurations affect economic, social, and political performance, including economic growth, quality of life, corruption, and happiness? 1

2 To unravel some of these issues, the class will explore some of the greatest hits of comparative politics and use these theories to understand case studies and contemporary events from around the world. Course Materials Hooray! You do not need to buy any books for this class All the course material will be available on Moodle. You are expected to do all the assigned readings and complete required activities before coming to class unless otherwise noted on the syllabus. You should also plan to bring a copy of the assigned readings or detailed notes on the readings with you to class to facilitate class discussion. Course Requirements Your grade in this course will be based on the following five elements, which will be weighted as follows: 1. Participation 10% 2. Final exam 30% 3. Simulation analysis 20% 4. Group data project 15% 5. Response papers 25% Participation (10%) Your grade for this component is based on two parts: your active engagement with the course material and your overall citizenship in the classroom. Active engagement takes many forms, including close attention to the discussion/lectures, asking clarifying questions about the lecture, bringing up interesting examples and counterexamples of the phenomena we are studying, presenting opposing arguments, challenging assumptions or conclusions, reporting back to the class on small-group discussions, coming to office hours to discuss the material, etc. Throughout the term, we will experiment with many different ways to structure discussion. You should figure out what makes you feel the most comfortable and use that channel to add your voice to the class deliberations. It is important that you find some way to be actively involved in the class and add your own reflections and ideas to the larger discussion. Students who simply come to class and listen attentively but do nothing more will be unlikely to earn anything above an 80 (B-) for this component. Why does active participation matter at all? First, contributing to group discussion is a valuable skill in many post-carleton career pathways, including in graduate school, nonprofit work, the corporate world, and the public sector. This class, and your other Carleton classes, give you opportunities to practice and hone this skill so you can feel comfortable and confident about participating in these other venues and making sure that what you say is worth hearing. Second, our class is a small epistemic community; we are collectively working towards enhancing and expanding our knowledge, and we each bring different information resources to this common goal. Epistemic communities require all their members to sharing the information and knowledge they have generously and without fear. Because a positive and supportive environment is needed for our epistemic community to flourish, citizenship also matters for participation. Behaviors that will negatively affect your 2

3 grade include: repeated tardiness, unexplained absences, not paying attention in class to me or your peers (by texting, using the internet, engaging in side conversations with neighbors, etc.), and engaging in disruptive or disrespectful behavior during lecture, discussions, or presentations. Final exam (30%) The final exam will cover material from the entire course, including readings and lectures. It will consist of several short-answer/id questions and essay questions. It is closed-book, closed-note, and self-scheduled. For more information on Carleton s self-scheduled exams, please consult Simulation analysis (20%) We will spend two days on an extended simulation about regime transitions. Prior to the start of the simulation, you will submit a short (2-3 page, double-spaced) strategy brief in which you outline how you will bargain and negotiate during the simulation. Following the simulation, you will submit a longer (5-6 page, double-spaced) paper in which you evaluate the dynamics of the simulation, assess the success (or failure) of your initial strategy, and contrast the events of the simulation with class readings on how regime transitions unfold. The pre-simulation brief is worth 5% of your grade; the post-brief analysis is worth 15%. Group data project (15%) Over the course of the term, we will explore the relationship between regime type and difference performance indicators, like economic growth, political stability, corruption, and public health outcomes. To facilitate this examination, you will work in small groups, each of which will be responsible for examining the correlation between democracy, dictatorship, and one particular indicator. Your group will be responsible for thinking about how best to measure this indicator, explore different datasets that are available, pick one, and collect data to analyze. Groups will generate visual displays of their data and analyze them to come to a tentative conclusion about whether regime type has an influence on state performance, and then present the results of this analysis to the class in a timed presentation. The grade will be based on the quality of the presentation, the quality of supporting materials and data analysis, and each individual s contributions to overall group effort (all weighted equally). Response papers (25%) You will write two short papers that respond to posted prompts. Each paper will help you practice certain writing skills considered critical in social science courses, such as making a clear and incisive argument, logical organization, and persuasive evidence drawn from assigned readings and, in the case of the second paper, outside sources. You will also have the opportunity to read and provide feedback to a peer on the draft of the second paper. The first paper will be 3-4 (double-spaced) pages and be worth 10% of your grade. The second paper will be 4-5 (double-spaced) pages and be worth 15% of your grade. Before turning in your completed papers, you are required to meet with the writing assistant for this course, Sam Haiken, and work with her on your argument. She will have sign-up office hours specifically for this purpose. 3

4 Course Policies Attendance is mandatory, and you are expected to come to class regularly and on time. If you are unable to attend due to illness or an emergency, you should notify me by as soon as possible (and preferably in advance). If you are forced to miss a class, it is your responsibility, first, to get notes from a classmate and only then come see me during office hours to clarify any questions you have. If you miss class without explanation, it will count as an unexcused absence. Two or more unexcused absences will automatically lower your participation grade by one letter grade (e.g., from a B to a C). If you accumulate four or more unexcused absences, you will receive a zero for your participation grade. After six unexcused absences, you are in danger of failing the class outright. Grading: letter grades correspond to the following numerical scores: Letter Grade Numerical Score Letter Grade Numerical Score A C A C B D B D B D C F 59-0 To get an A on a paper, you must present a clear, focused, concrete, thorough, original, and compelling analysis of the topic. Such papers will be well grounded in evidence and the scholarly literature (specifically the assigned readings). The writing will be crisp, logically organized, and free of technical errors. Such papers are uncommon as an A indicates truly outstanding work. Papers that receive a B will involve a sound and reasonable consideration of the topic that indicates the writer has a good overall grasp of the material, but will fall short of an A paper in the quality or depth of the analysis, the strength of evidentiary support, and/or technical clarity in writing. Papers that receive a C tend to be vaguely written, weak in argumentation, and may contain factual errors or misunderstandings of the material. Papers receiving less than a C will contain serious flaws and typically will not fulfill the requirements of the assignment in some fashion. Papers Will be uploaded to Moodle unless otherwise noted. Papers should always include your name, be appropriately proofread, contain page numbers, and include a bibliography. All citations should follow the style guide on Moodle. Uploaded papers should always be PDF files, NOT Word documents. Word files will not be accepted, and your files will not count as turned in unless they are PDF files (and will be penalized accordingly). Late Work Assignments are due by 10pm on the indicated deadline unless noted otherwise. Anything handed in after that barring illness or other extenuating circumstances will automatically be penalized by 1/3 of a letter grade for every 24 hours past the deadline. Technological difficulties do not excuse late work unless they are system-wide. Please be advised: Moodle time-stamps 4

5 your submissions down to the minute. Do not lose track of time, and please don t cut things too close. Extensions Please do not ask for an extension without having a compelling reason involving unforeseen complications or obstacles to completing your work on time. Simply having a lot of work in a given week is not sufficient grounds for an extension. Real life involves few deadline extensions, so it is good to get in the habit now of getting things done and turned in on time. Plagiarism and academic dishonesty If you are not familiar with Carleton s policy and standards on academic dishonesty, please go to and familiarize yourself with this information. If you have questions or uncertainties about when or where or how to attribute information correctly, please come see me or consult with a reference librarian. Anyone caught cheating, plagiarizing, or otherwise violating the rules of academic honesty at Carleton will automatically receive a zero for the assignment and will have the case referred to the Dean s office for further investigation and possible disciplinary action. In addition, offenders may receive a failing grade for the course at the discretion of the professor. Special needs If you require special accommodation due to a documented physical or learning disability, it is your responsibility to come see me during the first week of class to discuss what adjustments might be required and how I can best help you get the most out of the term. Computers, phones, and tablets Repeated studies highlight that taking notes by hand benefits recall and ability to understand and apply new concepts. As a result, I encourage you to unplug while in the classroom. However, if you must have a laptop or tablet (to access readings, for example), I will allow their use provided that you do not use them for anything other than class-related tasks. That means ABSOLUTELY NO , social media, games, internet browsing, texting, etc. The minute you open your computer or tablet, log off other applications and disable the Wi-Fi to keep yourself from being tempted. If I spot anyone abusing this policy, they will be banned permanently for the rest of the term for everyone. Phones must be put on silent mode. Schedule of Readings The readings from this course come from a variety of sources, some of which are intended for a general audience of non-specialists and some for a more specialized, knowledgeable, and scholarly audience of political scientists. Depending on your background and prior experience with the social sciences, you may find some of these readings to be fairly straightforward. Others may be tougher going and will require more time and effort on your part. Regardless, it is your responsibility to read each piece with care. Please engage in active, not passive reading: summarize main points for yourself as you go along, flag points that are unclear, write down questions that come to mind, note points where you agree and disagree with the author, assess whether the author has provided sufficient credible evidence to substantiate the argument, etc. The more work you put in ahead of time, the more productive class time will be. 5

6 Remember: all readings and assignments are due for the day listed unless otherwise noted. All readings, videos, paper prompts, and other course-related materials are available on Moodle. COMPARATIVE POLITICS: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW Topic Readings September 11 What is comparative politics? Introduction to the course Review this syllabus, Moodle site, and course policies September 13 September 15 Philosophical foundations of comparative politics Methodological foundations of comparative politics Complete the (ungraded, but required) syllabus quiz before Friday s class. Students scoring 10/10 will receive two extra credit points applicable to their first paper. Also: upload your 60-second video introduction on Moodle. Shively, W. Phillips Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science. New York: McGraw Hill, ch Esping-Andersen, Gøsta The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press), excerpt. Przeworski, Adam and Henry Teune The Logic of Comparative Social Inquiry. New York: Wiley-Interscience, ch. 2. Research and collect data on your selected country, following assignment guidelines on Moodle. Bring results to class today. BUILDING BLOCKS OF COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: STATES AND NATIONS September 18 Origin and evolution of states Tilly, Charles Capital, Coercion, and European States, AD New York: McGraw Hill, ch September 20 States and nations Renan, Ernest Qu est-ce qu une nation? Pp in Nationalism, John Hutchinson and Anthony Smith, eds. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Hobsbawm, Eric Nations and Nationalism since Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ch Selected national anthems September 22 States and nations outside of Europe Schwarz, Rolf The Political Economy of State Formation in the Arab Middle East: Rentier States, Economic Reform, and Democratization. Review of International Political Economy, 15(4): Leander, Anna Wars and the Un-Making of States: Taking Tilly Seriously in the Contemporary World. In S. Guzzini and D. Jung, Copenhagen Peace Research: Conceptual Innovations and Contemporary Security Analysis. London: Routledge. 6

7 September 25 September 27 New models of governance: the European Union A closer look: The EU in crisis [Class visit by Danya Leebaw, social sciences librarian] Prompts for short paper #1 posted today by 5pm. Please review writing video #1 before beginning work on your paper. Remember to make an appointment with Sam to discuss your paper! McCormick, John Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. Ch Watch video on EU institutions Use the Eurobarometer Interactive website to complete the Moodle assignment and bring your results to class. Watch video on the sovereign debt crisis Clarke, Harold D., Matthew Goodwin, and Paul Whiteley Brexit: Why Britain Voted to Leave the European Union. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ch. 1, 4, 8. REGIME TYPES AND TRANSITIONS: WHO GETS TO RULE? September 29 Democracies and autocracies Schmitter, Philippe C. and Terry Lynn Karl What Democracy Is and Is Not. Journal of Democracy, 2(3): Gandhi, Jennifer and Ellen Lust-Okar Elections under Authoritarianism. Annual Review of Political Science, 12: Short paper #1 due by 10pm. Data analysis groups assigned. Watch video on data analysis to prepare for group work. October 2 Origins of democracy Dahl, Robert On Democracy. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Ch. 2. Acemoglu, Daron and James Robinson Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy. New York: Cambridge University Press. Ch October 4 Regime transitions Watch video on democratic waves O Donnell, Guillermo and Philippe C. Schmitter Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press. Ch October 6 Consolidation and breakdown Diamond, Larry Facing Up to the Democratic Recession. Journal of Democracy, 26(1): Maeda, Ko Two Modes of Democratic Breakdown: A Competing Risks Analysis of Democratic Durability. Journal of Politics, 72(4): Schedler, Andreas Measuring Democratic Consolidation. Studies in Comparative International Development, 36(1): October 9 A closer look: the Arab Spring Ghanem, Hafez The Arab Spring Five Years Later, vol. 1. Washington, DC: Brookings Institute. 7

8 October 11 October 13 October 16 October 18 October 20 A closer look: regime types and performance A closer look: regime types and performance Mid-term break: no class! In-class simulation. (meet in Alumni Guest House) In-class simulation (meet in normal classroom) Ch. 2. Stepan, Alfred and Juan J. Linz Democratization Theory and the Arab Spring. Journal of Democracy, 24(2): In-class data presentations In-class data presentations No reading Pre-simulation paper due *IN CLASS* No reading Institutional Choices: What are the Rules of the Political Game? October 23 Presidential and parliamentary systems Shively, Phillip Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science, 13 th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, ch October 25 Comparative electoral systems Shively, Phillip Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science, 13 th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, ch. 10 (pp ). October 27 Election simulation No reading October 30 November 1 Political parties and party systems A closer look: populism in world politics Post-simulation paper due by 10pm. Shively, Phillip Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science, 13 th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, ch. 10 (pp ). Prompts for short paper #2 posted today. Please review writing video #2 before beginning work on your paper. And remember to make an appointment with Sam to discuss your paper! Canovan, Margaret Trust the People! Populism and the Two Faces of Democracy. Political Studies, 47: Seligson, Mitchell A The Rise of Populism and the Left in Latin America. Journal of Democracy, 18(3): Betz, Hans-George The New Politics of Resentment: Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe. Comparative Politics, 25(4): ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: WHO GETS RICH? November 3 Import-substitution industrialization Watch video on development theories Franko, Patrice The Puzzle of Latin American Development. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, ch November 6 Export-led growth and the Haggard, Stephen, Byung-kook Kim, and Chung-in 8

9 November 8 developmental state New models: human and sustainable development Moon The Transition to Export-Led Growth in South Korea: The Journal of Asian Studies, 50(4): Cline, William R Can the East Asian Model of Development be Generalized? World Development, 10(2): Draft of paper #2 due by 10pm. Upload copy to Moodle and a copy to your assigned peer reviewer Hopwood, Bill, Mary Mellor, and Geoff O Brien Sustainable Development: Mapping Different Approaches. Sustainable Development, 13: Bring copies of your peer review comments. You will have 15 minutes to exchange feedback in class. STATE AND SOCIETY: WHAT ABOUT CITIZENS? November 10 Civil society and social capital Watch video on civil society Putnam, Robert Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Democracy. New York: Simon and Schuster, ch. 1, 3. Sander, Thomas H. and Robert Putnam Still Bowling Alone? The Post 9/11 Split. Journal of Democracy, 21(1): Complete Moodle assignment. Print out results and bring to class. November 13 Social protest and mobilization Gupta, Devashree Protest Politics Today. Cambridge and Medford, MA: Polity, ch. 1 (pp. 1-19), ch. 6. November 15 Conclusion and wrap-up No reading November 16 Exam review session (optional) Leighton Paper #2 due by 10pm Come prepared with questions 9