Semester at Sea, Course Syllabus Colorado State University, Academic Partner. Course Number and Title: POLS 241 Comparative Government and Politics

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1 Semester at Sea, Course Syllabus Colorado State University, Academic Partner Voyage: Spring 2017 Discipline: Political Science Course Number and Title: POLS 241 Comparative Government and Politics Division: Lower Faculty Name: Tao Xie Semester Credit Hours: 3 Prerequisites: None. However, intellectual curiosity in and prior exposure (academic or otherwise) to politics and history of non-u.s. countries would be quite useful. COURSE DESCRIPTION This is an introductory level course in comparative politics, a subfield of political science that compares political systems across countries. Comparison of political systems helps us to understand the imperatives that political systems have in common, as well as the ways in which they vary. Such comparison enhances our understanding of our own political system and the diverse world in which we live. The course exposes students to basic concepts, major theories, and fundamental research methods used in analyzing political systems. Discussion topics include the state, state-building and state failure, political economy, democracy, democratization, non-democratic regimes, federalism, and political violence. By semester s end, it is hoped that students will have a general understanding of comparative politic, as well as the ability to conduct basic research in the field. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Tailored for a program that is taught during a voyage across three oceans and a dozen of countries, this course has three objectives. First, it seeks to help students to understand the diverse political systems of countries located along the voyage. Some of these countries are democratic while others are authoritarian; some economically advanced but others trapped in poverty. Some countries practice parliamentary system, while others presidential system. We will discuss the causes and consequences of such variations. The second objective is to expose students to basic concepts, major theories, and fundamental research methods used in analyzing political systems. Concepts to be discussed include the state and democracy,, and major theories include related to democracy and authoritarianism. Basic research methods such as historical-comparative analysis will be introduced. Since a large number of students come from the United States, the third objective of this course is to convey an understanding of the American political system in a comparative perspective, highlighting the similarities and differences between the United States and other countries.

2 REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS Patrick H. O Neil TITLE: Essentials of Comparative Politics PUBLISHER: W.W. Norton ISBN #: (pbk.) DATE/EDITION: 2013/4 th ed. Samuel P. Huntington TITLE: Political Order in Changing Societies PUBLISHER: Yale University Press ISBN #: (cloth: alk. paper) DATE/EDITION: 2006 (reprint) TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE Depart Ensenada January 5 B1 January 8: Introduction We will walk through the syllabus and discuss logistics B2 January 10: Basics of comparative politics What is comparative politics? How do we compare political systems across countries? What is the relationship between freedom and equality? O Neil, Chapter 1. Honolulu January 12 B3 January 13: Defining democracy What is democracy? What are the preconditions for democracy? Is democracy a guarantee of freedom and equality? O Neil, chapter 5, pp Robert A. Dahl, Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1971, Chapter 1, pp Philippe C. Schmitter and Terry Lynn Karl, What Democracy Is... and Is Not, Journal of Democracy, 1991, 2:3, B4 January 15: Origins of democracy How did democracy arise in England? How did America become a democracy? Is American democracy exceptional? Francis Fukuyama, The Origins of Political Order, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011, chapter 27, pp Mancur Olson, Dictatorship, Democracy, and Development, American Political Science Review, 1993, 87:3,

3 B5 January 18: Varieties of democracy What is a parliamentary system? What is a presidential system? What are the pros and cons of the two systems? O Neil, chapter 5, pp Juan J. Linz, The Perils of Presidentialism, Journal of Democracy, 1990, 1:1, No class January 19 B6 January 21: Advanced democracies What are the key characteristics of advanced democracies? What makes them advanced compared with newly democratized countries? What impact does post-industrialization have on these societies? O Neil, chapter 8. Ronald Inglehart, The Silent Revolution in Europe: Intergenerational Change in Post-Industrial Societies, American Political Science Review, 1971, 65:4, B7 January 23: Politics of Japanese style How did Japan become a democracy? What are some of the challenges faced by the Japanese democracy? How does Japan manage to be modern but hardly western? Martin Jacques, When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order, New York: Penguin, 2009, chapter 3, pp T. J. Pempel, Japanese Democracy and Political Culture: A Comparative Perspective, PS: Political Science and Politics, 1992, 25:1, Alexandra Harney, Japan's Silver Democracy: The Costs of Letting the Elderly Rule Politics, Foreign Affairs, July 18, Kobe January B8 January 30: Understanding the Chinese political system Why is China called a party-state? How are China s top leaders selected? How is leadership structured within the Chinese Communist Party? Susan V. Lawrence and Michael F. Martin, Understanding China s Political System, Congressional Research Service, March 20, Shanghai January 31 February 5 B9 February 7: Will China democratize? Why hasn t China collapsed, despite repeated predictions to the contrary? What are the prospects for democratization in China? David Shambaugh, The Coming Chinese Crackup, Wall Street Journal, March 6, Yasheng Huang, Why China Will Not Collapse, Foreign Policy, summer 1995, pp

4 Liu Yu and Chen Dingding, Why China Will Democratize, Washington Quarterly, 2012, 35:1, B10 February 9: Communist regimes What is the origin of Communism? What differences and similarities are there between Communist China and Communist Vietnam? What caused the varied outcomes of transformation in the former Communist countries? O Neil, chapter 9 Walden Whitman, Ho Chi Minh Was Noted for Success in Blending Nationalism and Communism, New York Times, September 4, Grzegorz Ekiert, Jan Kubik, and Milada Anna Vachudova, Democracy in the Post-Communist World: An Unending Quest? East European Politics and Societies, 2007, 21:1, Ho Chi Minh City February B11 February 16: The third wave of democratization What are the three waves of democratization? What caused the third wave? Samuel P. Huntington, The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late 20 th Century, Norman: Oklahoma University Press, Chapter 2, pp No Class February 17 B12 February 19: Political transition in Myanmar Can existing theories explain democratization in Myanmar? What was the role of Aung San Suu Kyi in bringing about political reforms in Myanmar? What challenges lie ahead for Myanmar s democratization? Freedom from fear: A historic victory in Myanmar for the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, Economist, November 13, Ashley South, Political Transition in Myanmar: A New Model for Democratization, Contemporary Southeast Asia, 2004, 26:2, Evan Osnos, The Burmese Spring: A brutal regime s shift toward democracy surprised nearly everyone. How did it happen? New Yorker, August 6, Yangon February B13 February 26: Diversity of non-democratic regimes What are the sources of legitimacy in non-democratic regimes? How do these regimes maintain control over the masses? Why are some of these regimes more stable than others? O Neil, chapter 6. Larry Diamond, Thinking about Hybrid Regimes, Journal of Democracy, 2002, 13:2, Milan W. Svolik, The Politics of Authoritarian Rule, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012, chapter 2, pp

5 B14 February 28: Democracy with Indian characteristics How did India become a democracy? Is the Indian democracy exceptional or not? Why is India falling far behind China in economic development? Amartya Sen, Why India Trails China, New York Times, June 19, Arend Lijphart, The Puzzle of Indian Democracy: A Consociational Interpretation, American Political Science Review, 1996, 90:2, James Manor, "Making Federalism Work." Journal of Democracy, 1998, 9:3, Cochin March 1--6 B15 March 8: Federalism What is federalism? What are the major models of federalism? Does federalism facilitate democracy? Does federalism facilitate economic development? Alfred C. Stepan, "Federalism and Democracy: Beyond the U.S. Model," Journal of Democracy, 1999, 10:4, Barry R. Weingast, The Economic Role of Political Institutions: Market-Preserving Federalism and Economic Development, Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization, 1995, 11:1, B16 March 11: Origins of prosperity and poverty Why are some countries rich but others poor? What theories have been proposed to explain cross-national variations in economic development? O Neil, chapter 4. Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, Why Nations Fails: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, New York: Crown Business, 2012, chapter 2, pp Adam Przeworski, Democracy and Economic Development, in The Evolution of Political Knowledge, ed., Edward D. Mansfield and Richard Sisson, Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 2004 ( Mauritius March 12 B17 March 14: The state and its origins What is the state? How did the state arise? Why are the states weak in some countries but strong in others? O Neil, chapter 2. H. H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills, From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, New York: Oxford University Press, 1946 (1958), chapter IV, pp Charles Tilly, War Making and State Making as Organized Crime, in Peter Evans et al, eds., Bringing the State Back In, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp No Class March 15 B18 March 17: Failed states

6 Why do some states fail? How do we measure state failure? What are the consequences of state failure? Susan E. Rice and Stewart Patrick, Index of State Weakness in the Developing World, Brooking Institution, Gerald B. Helman and Steven R. Ratner, Saving Failed States, Foreign Policy, winter , Cape Town March B19 March 25: Politics in South Africa What is wrong with the South African democracy? Why is corruption so rampant in South Africa? Does South Africa s Democracy: The Hollow State, Economist, December 19, Pippa Green, Piketty in South Africa, New Yorker, October 26, 2015 Tom Lodge, Political Corruption in South Africa, African Affairs, 1998, 97:387, James L. Gibson, Apartheid s Long Shadow: How Racial Divides Distort South Africa s Democracy, Foreign Affairs, March/April B20 March 27: Modernization and political instability Why does modernization in late developing countries often lead to political instability? What is political institutionalization? Is authoritarian rule a necessary evil for late-developing countries? Samuel P. Huntington, Political Order in Changing Societies, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1968 (2006), chapter 1, pp No Class March 29 B21 March 30: Democracy in Ghana How did Ghana become a democracy? What is the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah? What political challenges does Ghana face? Kwame Boafo Arthur, Democracy and Stability in West Africa: The Ghanaian Experience, Claude Ake Memorial Papers No. 4, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Jeff Haynes, Sustainable Democracy in Ghana? Problems and Prospects, Third World Quarterly, 1993, 14:3, Tema March 31-April 3 B22 April 5: Military participation in politics What makes the military a special institution? Under what circumstances is the military likely to participate in politics? Why is Africa so prone to military coups? Huntington, Political Order in Changing Societies, chapter 4, pp

7 Samuel P. Huntington, The Solider and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations, Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 1957 (1985), chapter 4, pp B23 April 7: Political violence in Africa Why is Africa so prone to political violence? Does colonialism have an impact on political violence there? How to prevent political violence in that continent? O Neil, chapter 7. Ibrahim Elbadawi and Nicholas Sambanis, Why Are There So Many Civil Wars in Africa? Understanding and Preventing Violent Conflict, Journal of African Economics, 2000, 9:3, Scott Strauss, Wars Do End! Changing Patterns of Political Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, African Affairs, 2012, 111:443, B24 April 9: The Arab Spring: the fourth wave? How did the Arab Spring happen? What is the current state of Arab Spring countries? Does the Arab Spring represent the beginning of the fourth wave of democratization? Carl Gershman, The Fourth Wave, New Republic, March 14, Robin Wright, How the Arab Spring Became the Arab Cataclysm, New Yorker, December 15, Alfred Stepan and Juan J. Linz, "Democratization Theory and the Arab Spring, Journal of Democracy, 2013, 24:2, Study Day April 10 Casablanca April B25 Finals April 16: Arrive Hamburg April 19 FIELD WORK Semester at Sea field experiences allow for an unparalleled opportunity to compare, contrast, and synthesize the different cultures and countries encountered over the course of the voyage. In addition to the one field class, students will complete independent field assignments that span multiple countries. Field Class attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of your field class. Field Classes constitute at least 20% of the contact hours for each course. Field Class and Assignment The Field Class for this course will take place on Tuesday, 21 February, in Yangon, Myanmar.

8 Political Transition in Myanmar: What happened, why, and how? Myanmar is undergoing unprecedented political transformations, as embodied in the most recent presidential election where the opposition party led by Aung San Suu Kyi won by a landslide. The country was under military rule for nearly two decades, but it suddenly embarked on democratic transition. Why this sudden change? How did it happen? What challenges lie ahead and how to address them? Field Class Objectives The field class aims to 1) expose students to Myanmar s political, economic, and cultural landscape, 2) help students to find preliminary answers to the above questions by incorporating classroom readings and field class experiences. Field Class Assignment Students are required to do group presentations on Myanmar s political transformations. The presentations should incorporate not only classroom readings, but also what they learned from the field class (guided tours, independent visits, and a symposium featuring local students and analysts). Independent Field Assignments At each port of call, students are expected to pay close attention to the political aspects of the particular country. Political aspects includes the nature of government (democratic or authoritarian), form of government (parliamentary or presidential), methods of selection for the national legislative body and the highest executive office, major political parties, ethnoreligious composition, central-local relations, etc. If appropriate, they should also actively mingle with local residents to get a sense of their views on local politics. Through their own observations, personal experiences, and conversations with local residents, students should have a good sense of the political similarities and differences among countries located on the voyage. After each port of call, students are required to turn in a journal that documents their observations, personal experiences, conservations with local residents, and reflections that are closely related to the political life of the local community. Each journal should be 3-5pages, double-spaced. Journals account for 10% of class grade. METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING SCALE The course grade has five components: attendance (10%), field class assignment (20%), journal for each port visit (10%), the term paper (30%), and the final exam 30%. 1. Each unexcused absence will result in 2-point deduction in attendance grade. Six unexcused absences will result in failure of the course. Students should make the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. The instructor will make reasonable efforts to enable students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor s supervision (e.g., quizzes). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established CSU procedures. 2. The term paper should be an original research paper 12-point font, 8-12 pages (excluding references), doubled spaced on any topic covered in the course. Students are required to approach the instructor around mid-semester for discussion and approval of

9 term paper topics. The paper will be evaluated on the basis of originality, argumentation, and language quality. 3. Papers similar or identical to papers in other SAS courses will not be accepted unless approved by the instructor. 4. The 2-hour final exam consists of four essay questions. The final course grade may be adjusted based on the frequency and quality of participation in classroom discussions. The following Grading Scale is utilized for student evaluation. Pass/Fail is not an option for Semester at Sea coursework. Note that C-, D+ and D- grades are also not assigned on Semester at Sea in accordance with the grading system at Colorado State University (the SAS partner institution). Pluses and minuses are awarded as follows on a 100% scale: Excellent Good Satisfactory/Poor Failing %: A %: A 90-93%: A %: B %: B 80-83%: B %: C %: C 60-69%: D Less than 60%: F ATTENDANCE/ENGAGEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM Attendance in all Semester at Sea classes is mandatory, but it is at the instructor s discretion to assign a grade to the participation and attendance requirement. Remember to include information concerning the evaluation of Field Assignments and the Field Classes, which must constitute at least 20% of the total grade in a course. Students must inform their instructors prior to any unanticipated absence and take the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. Instructors must make reasonable efforts to enable students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor s supervision (e.g., examinations, laboratories). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established CSU procedures. LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS Semester at Sea provides academic accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities, in accordance with ADA guidelines. Students who will need accommodations in a class, should contact ISE to discuss their individual needs. Any accommodation must be discussed in a timely manner prior to implementation. A memo from the student s home institution verifying the accommodations received on their home campus is required before any accommodation is provided on the ship. Students must submit this verification of accommodations pre-voyage as soon as possible, but no later than November 19, 2016 to academic@isevoyages.org. STUDENT CONDUCT CODE The foundation of a university is truth and knowledge, each of which relies in a fundamental manner upon academic integrity and is diminished significantly by academic misconduct. Academic integrity is conceptualized as doing and taking credit for one s own work. A pervasive attitude promoting academic integrity enhances the sense of community and adds

10 value to the educational process. All within the University are affected by the cooperative commitment to academic integrity. All Semester at Sea courses adhere to this Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Code. Depending on the nature of the assignment or exam, the faculty member may require a written declaration of the following honor pledge: I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance on this exam/assignment. RESERVE BOOKS AND FILMS FOR THE LIBRARY Milan W. Svolik TITLE: The Politics of Authoritarian Rule PUBLISHER: Cambridge University Press ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2012 Robert Bates TITLE: When Things Fell Apart: State Failure in Late-Century Africa PUBLISHER: Cambridge University Press ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2008 Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith TITLE: The Dictator s Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics PUBLISHER: Public Affairs ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2011 Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson TITLE: Why Nations Fails: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty PUBLISHER: Crown Business ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2012 ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS Robert A. Dahl ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Democratization and Public Opposition JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition DATE: 1971 PAGES: 1-16 Francis Fukuyama ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: The Origins of Political Order JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Taxation and Representation DATE: 2011

11 PAGES: ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: DATE: 2009 PAGES: Martin Jacques Japan Modern But Hardly Western When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order Samuel P. Huntington ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Why? JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late 20th Century DATE: 1993 PAGES: Milan W. Svolik ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: The World of Authoritarian Politics JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: The Politics of Authoritarian Rule DATE: 2012 PAGES: Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Theories That Don t Work JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Why Nations Fails: The Origins of Power, Prosperity DATE: 2012 PAGES: ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: DATE: PAGES: H. H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills Politics as Vocation From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology 1958 (reprint) Charles Tilly ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: War Making and State Making as Organized Crime JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Bringing the State Back In DATE: 1985 PAGES: Samuel P. Huntington ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Power, Professionalism, and Ideology: Civil-Military Relations in Theory JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: The Solider and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil- Military Relations DATE: 1985 (reprint) PAGES: 80-97