Instructor(s)/Author(s): David J Zimny Subject Area/Course No.: POLSC-050 Units: 3 Course Name/Title: Introduction to Comparative Politics

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1 New Course OR Existing Course Instructor(s)/Author(s): David J Zimny Subject Area/Course No.: POLSC-050 Units: 3 Course Name/Title: Introduction to Comparative Politics Discipline(s): Political Science Pre-Requisite(s): None Co-Requisite(s): None Advisories: Eligibility for ENGL-100 Catalog Description: An introduction to the fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the political institutions and outcomes in a broad range of national settings. The course emphasizes the rich diversity of political life, alternative solutions to important social issues, the link between political processes and policy outcomes, and the impact of global economic and political change on national political systems. National case studies will include the United States, Mexico. Schedule Description: There s a wide, fascinating world of politics out there, and this course will give you the tools to understand it. How do other nations solve their political problems? How have culture, economics, and history molded politics around the globe? What can we learn from the political institutions of other nations? How do political scientists analyze and compare political systems across a wide range of nations? Explore the answers to these questions and more in POLSC-050 Introduction to Comparative Politics. We ll compare and contrast the American political system with the political institutions of nations from every corner of the world, from the United Kingdom to Nigeria. Join us as we use the method of comparison to deepen our knowledge of world politics and our understanding of our own political system. SC Hrs/Mode of Instruction: Lecture: _54_ Scheduled Lab: HBA Lab: Composition: Activity: Total Hours 54 (Total for course) Credit Credit Degree Applicable (DA) Grading Pass/No Pass (P/NP) Repeatability 0 Credit Non-Degree (NDA) Letter (LR) 1 (If Non-Credit desired, contact Dean.) Student Choice (SC) 2 3 Last date of Assessment: n/a Cohort #: 2 Please apply for: LMC General Education Requirement(s): Social and Behavioral Sciences Social & Behavioral Sciences Transfer to: CSU UC IGETC Area _4H_ CSU GE Area_D8_ C-ID Number _POLSC 130_ Course is Baccalaureate Level: Yes No Form Revised Page 1 of 10

2 Signatures: Department Chair Librarian Dean Curriculum Committee Chair President/Designee CCCCD Approval (Board or Chancellor's Office) For Curriculum Committee Use only: STAND ALONE COURSE: YES NO FOR OFFICE OF INSTRUCTION ONLY. DO NOT WRITE IN THE SECTION BELOW. Begin in Semester Catalog year 20 /20 Class Max: Dept. Code/Name: T.O.P.s Code: Crossover course 1/ 2: ESL Class: Yes / No DSPS Class: Yes / No Coop Work Exp: Yes / No Class Code A Liberal Arts & Sciences SAM Code A Apprenticeship Remediation Level B Basic Skills B Developmental Preparatory B Advanced Occupational NBS Not Basic Skills C Adult/Secondary Basic Education C Clearly Occupational D Personal Development/Survival D Possibly Occupational E For Substantially Handicapped E* Non-Occupational F Parenting/Family Support F Transfer, Non-Occupational G Community/Civic Development *Additional criteria needed H General and Cultural 1 One level below transfer I Career/Technical Education 2 Two levels below transfer J Workforce Preparation Enhanced 3 Three levels below transfer K Other non-credit enhanced Not eligible for enhanced Course approved by Curriculum Committee as Baccalaureate Level: _Yes / No_ LMC GE or Competency Requirement Approved by the Curriculum Committee: Distribution: Original: Office of Instruction Copies: Admissions Office, Department Chairperson Form Revised Page 2 of 10

3 Institutional Student Learning Outcomes General Education SLOs (Recommended by GE Committee) At the completion of the LMC general education program, a student will: 1. read critically and communicate effectively as a writer and speaker. 2. understand connections among disciplines and apply interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. 3. think critically and creatively 4. consider the ethical implications inherent in knowledge, decision-making and action. 5. possess a worldview informed by diverse social, multicultural and global perspectives. None of the Above Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) Students who have completed courses in the Social Sciences program will be able to: 1. Formulate, analyze and synthesize arguments on social, cultural, political and historical issues. (GESLO 3) 2. Interpret information and communicate effectively in writing and speech. (GESLO 1) 3. Evaluate the implications of multicultural diversity and global interdependence. (GESLO 5) 4. Recognize and appreciate the connections among the disciplines of history, economics, political science and ethnic studies. (GESLO 2) 5. Apply standards of ethical inquiry to social-cultural, political, historical and economic issues. (GESLO 4) Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes (CSLOs) Students who have completed this course will be able to: 1. Define and explain in speech and writing the basic concepts of comparative political science, and apply them to the political institutions and policies of the United States and selected nation states including the Mexico. (GESLOs 1, 5; PSLOs 2, 3) 2. Compare and contrast the political institutions of selected nation states including the United States, the Mexico, the historical context of these institutions, and the economic, social and cultural policies these institutions have produced. (GESLOs 2, 5; PSLOs 3, 4) 3. Describe and analyze the major political values and ideologies of selected nation states including the United States, the Mexico, and their sources in world political cultures. (GESLOs 2, 3, 4, 5; PSLOs 1, 3, 4, 5) 4. Identify and compare the ethical assumptions underlying the political institutions, processes and policies of selected nation states including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China, India, Nigeria and Mexico. (GESLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; PSLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) 5. Describe and compare the ways in which selected nation states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China, India, Nigeria and Mexico, have been affected by economic and cultural globalization. (GESLOs 2, 5; PSLOs 1, 3, 4) Assessments: Required Reading Question Cards Quizzes Critical Thinking Essays Country Presentations / Presentation Reports Final Examination CSLO 1 X X X X CSLO 2 X X X X CSLO 3 X X X CSLO 4 X X X CSLO 5 X X Form Revised Page 3 of 10

4 CSLO 1: Define and explain in speech and writing the basic concepts of comparative political science, and apply them to the political institutions and policies of the United States and selected nation states including the Mexico. Required Reading Question Cards: Each student is required to submit at the first class meeting each week an index card with one important question about that week s required reading. The question may involve one of the important concepts presented by the text (for example, What does the author mean by popular sovereignty? ) or a question arising from the text (for example, Why does Nigeria have so many political parties? ). The instructor will either answer the question in written form on the card itself or discuss more detailed answers in class. Question cards will be graded on a pass/fail basis according to their pertinence to that week s required reading. Submitting these question cards requires the student to identify important concepts, institutions and policies that require more thorough explanation. Quizzes: Four in-class quizzes will be administered at equally spaced intervals throughout the semester. Each quiz will include multiple-choice, definition and short essay items covering the required readings, class lectures, discussions and activities of the previous month. A portion of each quiz will be devoted to assessing the student s ability to define and explain basic concepts comparative politics, and apply them to the United States and selected foreign nation-states. A sample short-essay quiz question: Our textbook calls the political party a linking and leading mechanism in politics. Explain how political parties perform this role in one of the foreign political systems we have studied. Critical Thinking Essays: Students are required to write four essays of approximately 500 words each presenting the strongest possible argument on either side of a controversial issue of public policy or institutional reform. The instructions for writing these persuasive essays: WRITING THE CRITICAL THINKING ESSAYS: Each of these essays will give the student a chance to develop the skills of critical thinking: the ability to analyze a problem, weigh alternatives, and explain the reasons for your conclusion. Critical thinking is a most important skill for all responsible citizens, especially in these days of complex issues and value conflicts. Each critical thinking assignment will ask you to accept or reject a political argument, and to make the strongest case you can for your conclusions. Topics for the essays are drawn from important current issues and controversies. Essays will not be graded on the student s opinion; there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. They will be graded on the logic shown in your argument, your use of information and examples from our class materials, and on how well you have dealt with the most important arguments on both sides of the issue. Methods for researching and writing these essays will be thoroughly explained in class. As these instructions indicate, students are expected to apply in writing concepts of comparative political science to diverse social and cultural settings in their essays. Propositions for these essays will be assigned by the instructor. A sample proposition: The United States should adopt the German system of legislative elections. Country Presentations / Presentation Reports: Each student will be required to prepare and participate in a group presentation on one nation not included in course readings and materials. Nations will be chosen at the beginning of the semester from a list supplied by the instructor; the instructor will select nations of particular interest to each course section. Group membership will be determined by student preference. Oral presentations approximately 15 minutes in length will be given at the end of the semester, with each group member taking part. Presentations will apply the concepts of comparative political science to a description of the selected country, including its political institutions, policies, major political ideologies, and the effects of globalization on their country s political history. After each presentation, the group will submit a written research-based report approximately 2500 words in length, expanding and elaborating on the material of the presentation. Group grades will be assigned for both the presentation and the report. CSLO 2: Compare and contrast the political institutions of selected nation states including the United States, the Mexico, the historical context of these institutions, and the economic, social and cultural policies these institutions have produced. Required Reading Question Cards: Required texts for the course illustrate basic concepts of comparative political science in a variety of national settings. Submitting question cards will require students to compare and Form Revised Page 4 of 10

5 contrast complex or unfamiliar institutions and policies, and to receive clarification on specific examples of these institutions and policies. Quizzes: A portion of each quiz will assess the student s ability to compare and contrast the ways in which diverse cultures and socioeconomic systems deal with the basic tasks of political organization. A sample short-essay quiz question: How does U.S. social policy differ from the policies followed in European nations? Critical Thinking Essays: Each essay proposition will require the student to compare and contrast the institutions, policies and contexts of at least two different political systems. Final Examination: An open-book, open-notes final essay examination will require each student to compare American political institutions with those of other nations and cultures. Each essay question in the final examination will require an explicit comparison of two or more political systems. A sample final exam essay question: A friend of yours tells you, When it comes to politics, the United States is number one. I don t think we have anything to learn about government from foreign nations. How would you try to convince your friend that she was wrong? In your explanation, refer to at least three other nations. CSLO 3: Describe and analyze the major political values and ideologies of selected nation states including the United States, the Mexico, and their sources in world political cultures. Quizzes: A portion of each quiz will assess the student s ability to describe and analyze political values and ideologies. A sample short-essay quiz question: The ideology of classic liberalism first arose in Great Britain in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Briefly explain the basic tenets of this ideology. Country Presentations / Presentation Reports: Each country presentation and presentation report will include a section describing and analyzing the political ideologies of a particular country. Final Examination: The open-book, open-notes final examination will gauge the ability of each student to describe the values reflected in national ideologies. A sample final exam essay question: Imagine that you were speaking to someone from modern China. How would you explain to him the difference between a subject and a citizen? CSLO 4: Identify and compare the ethical assumptions underlying the political institutions, processes and policies of selected nation states including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China, India, Nigeria and Mexico. Quizzes: A portion of each quiz will assess the student s ability to identify and compare the underlying ethical assumptions of different nation states. A sample short-essay quiz question: One of the most important ethical values in politics is honesty. In your opinion, which nation does the better job of keeping its government officials honest: the United States or China? Critical Thinking Essays: The word should in each critical thinking essay proposition requires the student to present explicitly ethical arguments for or against a particular proposal. These arguments may be consequentialist or deontological in nature, but no essay can be persuasive unless it deals with relevant ethical issues. Final Examination: The final examination will require each student to analyze the connection between ethical assumptions and political institutions, processes, or policies. A sample final exam essay question: The United States and Germany have very different welfare policies. What ethical assumptions have shaped each nation s policies in this area? CSLO 5: Describe and compare the ways in which selected nation states, including the United States, the Mexico, have been affected by economic and cultural globalization. Quizzes: A portion of at least one quiz will assess the student s ability to describe and/or compare the effects of globalization. A sample short-essay quiz question: How has the process of globalization affected the economies of less developed nations? Form Revised Page 5 of 10

6 Country Presentations / Presentation Reports: Each country presentation and presentation report will include a section describing and analyzing effects of globalization on a particular country. Method of Evaluation/Grading: A level student work is characterized by: Required Reading Question Cards submitted for each week s readings that consistently identify relevant, complex and challenging concepts, institutions and diverse political situations requiring further class discussion. Quizzes that correctly define and explain at least 90% of the basic political concepts covered during the relevant month and apply them with high accuracy to the United States and selected foreign political systems; reflect broad and highly accurate knowledge of the differences and similarities among diverse political institutions, processes, policies and ideologies discussed in our texts and class activities during this period; describe with high accuracy and detail the basic values and ethical assumptions of the major political ideologies of selected nations; and describe the sources and effects of globalization with high accuracy and sophistication. Critical Thinking Essays that demonstrate substantial mastery of the relevant concepts of comparative political science, accurately and thoughtfully explain the ethical dimensions of the arguments they present, clearly specify how the reader should understand the essay topic, support conclusions with facts or information drawn from several different sources or cases, clearly indicate the relevance of this information to the conclusions drawn, show a consistently high level of originality in analyzing supporting evidence, and are written in clear, well organized and error-free English prose. In addition, the student s Critical Thinking Essays will accurately identify at least one significant and major weakness in the logic and/or evidence of the opposing argument and demonstrate in detail why the opposing argument s weakness(es) should lead the reader to reject that argument. Participation in the Country Presentation that demonstrates the students mastery of the relevant concepts of comparative politics and relevant information on the assigned country; their ability to accurately and thoughtfully use those concepts to explain the country s political institutions, policies and major ideologies; and their ability to speak clearly and persuasively, with appropriate volume, pacing and tone, to work effectively with teammates, and to respond logically, directly and knowledgeably to questions from the audience. A Presentation Report that accurately and thoughtfully describes the assigned country s political institutions, policies, major political ideologies, and the ways in which it has been affected by globalization; supports its conclusions with relevant, current research sources; and is written in clear, well organized and error-free English prose. A Final Examination that demonstrates the ability to creatively apply many concepts of comparative political science to a wide range of political institutions, policies, ideologies and historical situations; to compare, contrast and analyze these institutions, policies, ideologies and situations with a high level of sophistication and creativity; and to analyze and apply political values and the ethical assumptions supporting them with a high level of accuracy. C level student work is characterized by: Required Reading Question Cards submitted for at least 70% of our required readings, most of which identify relevant and challenging concepts, institutions and diverse political situations requiring further class discussion. Quizzes that correctly define and explain at least 70% of the basic political concepts covered during the relevant month and apply them with a moderate level of accuracy to the United States and selected foreign political systems; reflect a basic and generally accurate knowledge of the differences and similarities among diverse political institutions, processes, policies and ideologies discussed in our texts and class activities during this period; describe with moderate accuracy and detail the basic values and ethical assumptions of the major political ideologies of selected nations; and provide a generally accurate description of the sources and effects of globalization. Critical Thinking Essays that demonstrate a rudimentary understanding of several relevant concepts of comparative political science, acknowledge the ethical dimensions of the arguments they present, attempt to explain the reasoning behind the conclusions reached (although perhaps with minimal detail and depth, assumptions not completely specified, marginally relevant or incomplete evidence, only cursory explanation of the logical Form Revised Page 6 of 10

7 connections between evidence and conclusions, lack of clear organization, or grammatical and syntactical errors). In addition, the student s Critical Thinking Essays will attempt to describe flaws in the logic and/or evidence of opposing arguments, but may have stated the opposing argument inaccurately, failed to describe an error in sufficient detail, or neglected to explain the connection between a particular weakness and the opposing argument s conclusions. Participation in the Country Presentation that demonstrates a basic grasp of the relevant concepts of comparative politics and relevant information on the assigned country; their ability use those concepts to explain the country s political institutions, policies and major ideologies with acceptable logic and detail; and their ability to speak with generally acceptable volume, pacing and tone, to divide responsibilities adequately among teammates, and to respond to questions from the audience with relevant answers. A Presentation Report that adequately describes the assigned country s political institutions, policies, major political ideologies, and the ways in which it has been affected by globalization; supports its conclusions with a sufficient number of research sources; and is written in prose without excessive grammatical and syntactical errors. A Final Examination that demonstrates the ability to apply some basic concepts of comparative political science to a moderate number of political institutions, policies, ideologies and historical situations; to compare and contrast these institutions, policies, ideologies and situations with general accuracy; and to analyze and apply some relevant political values and ethical assumptions to different political institutions, policies and situations. Recommended Point Structure: (Note: This structure is subject to minor adjustment by individual instructors with the permission of the Social Sciences Department.) Required Reading Question Cards: 16% Classroom Quizzes (4): 24% Critical Thinking Essays (4): 20% Country Presentations / Presentation Reports 20% Final Examination _20%_ 100% Course Content: (Note: The following outline is intended as a general guide to course materials. The order of presentation and relative emphasis on these course components will vary among instructors. Each instructor s syllabus (first-day handout) must be approved by the Social Sciences Department.) I. Introduction to comparative politics A. Purpose and methods of comparison and classification 1. Possible political organizations 2. Normative and empirical questions B. Comparative political concepts 1. State 2. Nation 3. Regime 4. Government 5. Political culture 6. Political economy C. The political process and public policy D. Case studies from selected nations (may include the United States, II. Sovereignty, authority and power A. Political culture and socialization B. Nation-states Form Revised Page 7 of 10

8 C. Supranational organizations D. Sources of power E. Constitutions F. Regime types G. Types of economic systems H. State building, legitimacy and stability 1. Belief systems as sources of legitimacy a) Religion b) Ideology (1) Liberalism (2) Conservatism (3) Socialism (4) Communism (5) Fascism I. Governance and Accountability J. Case studies from selected nations (may include the United States, III. Political institutions A. Levels of Government 1. Supranational/National/Regional/Local 2. Unitary/Federal 3. Centralized/Decentralized B. Executives 1. Single or dual 2. President 3. Prime Minister C. Legislatures 1. Unicameral or bicameral 2. Organization 3. Representation D. Parliamentary and presidential systems E. Elections 1. Presidential 2. Parliamentary 3. Referendums 4. Noncompetitive F. Electoral systems 1. Single member district (plurality or runoff) 2. Proportional representation 3. Hybrid systems G. Political parties 1. Organization 2. Membership 3. Ideological position H. Party systems 1. Single-party 2. Two-party 3. Multiple-party I. Leadership and recruitment institutions J. Interest groups and interest group systems 1. Pluralistic systems 2. Clientelistic systems 3. Corporatist systems K. Bureaucracies L. Coercive institutions 1. Military Form Revised Page 8 of 10

9 2. Police 3. Intelligence M. Judicial systems 1. Types of law 2. Judicial independence 3. Judicial review N. Case studies from selected nations (may include the United States, IV. State and society A. Citizenship and representation B. Social formations and political cleavages 1. Ethnic 2. Racial 3. Socioeconomic class 4. Religious 5. Gender-based 6. Regional 7. Group alliances and conflict C. Political participation 1. Electoral participation 2. Interest participation 3. Nonviolent protest 4. Political violence D. Social movements E. Mass media and political communications F. Civil society and social capital G. Case studies from selected nations (may include the United States, V. Public policy A. Stages of policymaking B. Common policy issues 1. Economic performance and development 2. Social welfare 3. Civil liberties, rights and freedoms 4. Environment 5. Population and migration 6. Defense C. Factors influencing policymaking and implementation 1. Domestic 2. International D. Case studies from selected nations (may include the United States, VI. Political and economic change A. Political evolution and path dependence B. Disruptive political change 1. Coups d etat 2. Revolutions 3. Effects of war C. Democratization and de-democratization 1. Stages 2. Promoting and inhibiting factors 3. Consequences Form Revised Page 9 of 10

10 D. Economic development and regression 1. Stages 2. Promoting and inhibiting factors 3. Consequences for politics E. Economic and cultural globalization 1. Sources of globalization 2. History of globalization 3. Political effects of globalization a) On industrialized nations b) On less developed nations F. Global trends and political prediction G. Case studies from selected nations (may include the United States, Instructional Methods: Lecture Lab Activity Problem-based Learning/Case Studies Collaborative Learning/Peer Review Demonstration/Modeling Role-Playing Discussion Computer Assisted Instruction Other (explain) Textbooks: (Note: The following texts are suitable for use in POLSC 050. Other texts may be used with the prior approval of the Social Sciences Department.) Introductory Comparative Politics Texts (Use one): Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges 9 th ed., by Charles Hauss (Wadsworth, 2014) Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th ed., by Patrick H. O Neil (Norton, 2015) The Good Society: An Introduction to Comparative Politics, 3 rd ed., by Alan Draper and Ansil Ramsay (Pearson, 2015) Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context, by Steven Orvis and Carol Ann Drogus (CQ Press, 2014) Nations and Governments: Comparative Politics in Regional Perspective 6 th ed., by Thomas Magstadt (Cengage, 2011) Countries and Concepts: Politics, Geography, Culture, 13 th ed., by Michael G. Roskin (Pearson, 2015) Supplementary Texts (Optional) Current Debates in Comparative Politics, ed. by J. Tyler Dickovick and Jonathan Eastwood (Oxford UP, 2014) Annual Editions: Comparative Politics, 33 rd ed., ed. by Caroline Westerhof (McGraw-Hill, 2015) Form Revised Page 10 of 10