Introduction to Comparative Politics Political Science 2301

Transcription

1 Introduction to Comparative Politics Political Science 2301 Dr. Nathan Price Assistant Professor Fall 2016 Blue Ridge Campus 103 TR 2:00-3:15 Blue Ridge Campus Office Hours: T and R 9:15-10:15 (Conference Room) Room 103 T and R 3:15-4:15 (Room 103) Skype: W 1:00-3:00 Skype Id: Nateprice4 By Appointment Course Description: This course is designed to give students an overview of the political institutions and political cultures of several countries that play a prominent role in global affairs. We will examine the modern histories of each country and compare their political institutions so that we may better understand the politics and political cultures of the countries we examine. In addition, we will attempt to apply our understanding of political institutions during a simulation in which we will attempt to write and adopt a democratic constitution for post-invasion 2003 Iraq. This course is an introductory level course, and therefore requires no prerequisites. He who knows one country knows none. -Freidrich Muller What knows he of England who only England knows? -Rudyard Kipling Course Objectives: Analyze the interaction of political actors and institutions within countries and their interactions with global political actors and organizations. Analyze the impact of economic, cultural, and historical factors on countries political development. Analyze the impact of global forces on countries political development.

2 Analyze the sources, organization, and functioning of power in countries political systems around the world. "Students will analyze political, cultural, or socioeconomic interactions among people or organizations of the world (Area B Learning Outcome for UNG) Course Requirements: Quiz 1 (September 22 nd ) In Class Quiz (10% of course grade) Mid-Term Exam (October 25 th ) - The mid-term will consist of 30 multiple choice questions as well as five short answer questions. Additionally, students will be given a choice of prompts to prepare an out of class essay that will be due the day of the midterm. Essays turned in late will be penalized one letter grade per day late. (20% of course grade.) Final Exam (December 15 th 3:00-5:00 pm) The final exam will be the same format as the mid-term. (30% of course grade.) Current Events Journal- Each week, I will disseminate three or four news articles that cover current events that relate to our course. Students will choose one article per week, and write a brief (less than one page) reaction that will be kept in a journal throughout the duration of the course. I will collect the journals every week to monitor your progress, and to assign a grade. Students must be present in order to receive credit for that week s journal entry, and no late submissions will be scored. (10% of course grade) Iraqi Constitution Project- Students will be divided into groups, each of which represents a different faction in Iraqi society or a global or regional power with a vested interest in Iraqi politics. Each group will be responsible for drafting and presenting a proposal for a constitution that they would like to see adopted as the official constitution for Iraq. After every group has presented their proposal, students will negotiate with one another in an attempt to draft and adopt one official constitution for Iraq. All groups proposals will be due November 15 th, and group presentations will be held during the November 15 th and November 17 th class periods. (20% of course grade) Participation- Students are expected to be engaged with the course material, and to periodically take part in classroom discussions. Any student who engages in behavior that disrupts or distracts other members of the class is subject to being penalized on this component. (10% of course grade) Grade Scale: A = B= C= 70-79

3 D= F= 60 or below Required Text: Hauss, Charles Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges (9 th Edition, 2014) ISBN 10: ISBN 13: Accommodations: The University of North Georgia is committed to equal access to its programs, services, and activities, and welcomes otherwise qualified students with disabilities. (Disabilities include but are not limited to: learning barriers, medical concerns, or mobility concerns.) Students who require accommodations and services must register with Disability Services and submit supporting documentation. Students who suspect they may need accommodations may also want to follow up with the office. Student Disability Services provides accommodation memos for eligible students to give their instructors. Students are responsible for providing the Accommodations Letter to the instructors and must give reasonable prior notice of the need for accommodation. Any student who needs a document or web page in a different format please me at Nathan.Price@ung.edu Contact Information for Disability Services; (Dahlonega Campus) Alicia Sarvis (Coordinator) Alicia.Sarvis@ung.edu Stewart Student Success Center, Room 313. (706) Additionally, it is the responsibility of any student who will miss class, assignment deadlines, or exams due to their involvement with a sport or club to make me aware of their needs so that I may accommodate them in accordance to UNG policy. Academic Integrity: If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don t have integrity, nothing else matters. -Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson Plagiarism is a serious offense which directly violates our honor code at the University of North Georgia. Your student handbook provides a broad definition of plagiarism that includes passing off another person s work as your own, passing off another person s ideas as your own, using direct quotations that are not properly attributed to their author,

4 and paraphrasing without use of proper citations. Any student caught plagiarizing will be referred to judicial affairs. I encourage students to familiarize themselves with UNG s full plagiarism policy: Additionally, I encourage students to take advantage of the resources UNG has in place in order to ensure that plagiarism does not occur. Our writing center at UNG is a fantastic resource that can help students learn how to use and cite resources properly. The Blue Ridge Campus also has Academic Coach Lisa Terrene on staff to provide our students with writing assistance. Lisa is a fantastic resource who has a passion for working with college students. lisa.terrene@ung.edu Additional Rules and Procedures: 1) All cell phones and other electronic devices are to remain off and put away for the duration of the class period. Failure to comply with this policy will have deleterious effects on your course participation grade. 2) Laptops are not permitted in my course. While I am well-aware of the potential benefits laptops provide us, it has been my experience that the negatives associated with them outweigh the benefits. 3) Students are expected to attend all class sessions in a punctual manner. Any student who compiles more than six unexcused absences will be withdrawn. 4) Students are to stay current with the readings. I do not like to give unannounced reading quizzes, but I reserve the right to do so. 5) Students should understand that the laws that govern access to student information differ for high school and college students. As you are now enrolled in a college course, I am obligated to abide by the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act which stipulates that I cannot provide information regarding your course grade to parents or guardians unless you have officially granted them access to a code word that you set up with UNG. That is a legal summary for you to keep in mind. On a personal note, it is my goal to run this course exactly like I would any other college course. If students have any concerns about the course, I encourage you to be your own advocate and me or visit my office hours. I hope that you will keep your parents or guardians involved with what is going on in our course, because this is an exciting time in your academic careers. Nevertheless, it is important to me that we cultivate a culture at our Blue Ridge campus that is characterized by academic rigor and mutual trust; and that students and faculty will work closely together to transition our students to the next level of their academic and professional careers.

5 Supplemental Syllabus: Please consult UNG s supplemental syllabus for additional rules and procedures: Course Outline: Aug 23: Course Introduction/Core Concepts in Comparative Politics Aug 25: Core Concepts in Comparative Politics/Regime Types (Read Hauss Pages 3-21) Aug 30: Regime Types/Liberal Democracies (Read Hauss pages 27-48) Sep 1: Liberal Democracies (Read Excerpt from Lijphart s Patterns of Democracy; Roll Verification Sept 2) Sep 6: Cleavages and Party Systems Sep 8: American Political Institutions (Read Hauss Pages 51-69) Sep 13: American Political Parties and Political Culture Sep 15: British History/British Political Institutions (Read Hauss pages ) Sep 20: British Political Parties and Political Culture Sept 22: Quiz; French History Sept 27: French Political Institutions (Read pages Hauss ) Sept 29: French Political Parties and Political Culture (Read Killian, Caitlin (2003) The Other Side of the Veil: Muslim Women Respond to the Headscarf Affair. Gender and Society Vol. 17, No. 4 Oct 4: German History (Read selection from Jackson Spielvogel s Hitler and NAZI Germany Oct 6: German Political Institutions (Read Hauss pages ) Oct 11: German Political Parties and Political Culture

6 Oct 13: The Evolution and Institutions of the European Union (Read Hauss Pages ; Final Day to Drop Course Oct 14) Oct 18: The Institutions of the European Union/The Debate over the European Union Oct 20: The Debate over the European Union/Review for Exam 1 Oct 25: Mid-Term Exam Oct 27: The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union (Read Hauss pages ) Nov 1: Russian Federation Nov 3: History of the Modern Middle East/Iraq Nov 8: Iranian History and Political Institutions (Read Hauss pages ) Nov 10: Iran in the World Nov 15: Presentations (All Groups Constitutions Due) Nov 17: Finish Presentations/Negotiations/Class Vote Nov 22: No Class Nov 24: No Class Nov 29: Chinese History/Institutions (Read Hauss pages ) Dec 1: Chinese Politics Dec 6: The Global South (Read Hauss pages ) Dec 8: Review for Final Dec 15: Final Exam 3:00-5:00 PM