Introduction to Politics: Exploring the Democratic Experience York University AP/POLS/PPAS 1000 6.0B Fall/Winter 2017-2018 Time: Friday, 12:30-2:20 pm Location: SLH A Professor Bruce Smardon Office: McLaughlin College 228 Office Hrs: Friday, 2:45-3:45 pm and Tuesday 2:45-3:45 pm Telephone: ext. 30080 e-mail address: bsmardon@yorku.ca Please note: e-mail communication is to be used only for reasons that involve notification of problems concerning the course, i.e. missing exams for personal reasons or difficulties with enrollment, or other course-related questions. Questions concerning the course material should be directed to the Teaching Assistants, who may also have a policy concerning how e-mail communication should be conducted. Students can also come and speak to me about the course material, or any other issues, in my office hours. Objective of the Course The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the institutions, political economy and ideologies of liberal democracies, and to give students a foundation for study in other Politics courses. Another key objective of the course is to encourage students to develop critical skills concerning the quality of democratic life in society. Requirements and Evaluation The final grade will be calculated in the following manner: First Examination (Oct. 13) 10% First Essay (Due on Nov. 24) 10% Second Examination (Dec. 1) 15% Third Examination (Feb. 16) 15% Second Essay (Due on March 23) 20% Tutorial Participation 15% Final Examination (April 6) 15% The first essay will be due on Nov. 24 in tutorials. It will be 4 double-spaced typewritten pages in length and will compare and contrast the policy prescriptions of a reform liberal with a neoliberal. Students will select their policy area from a list of possible policy areas. Further information on this topic will be given after classes begin.
The second essay will be due on March 23 in tutorials. It will be 8 double-spaced typewritten pages in length and will be based on assigned questions that will be distributed later in the course. The essays will not be accepted after the due dates unless there is a documented reason which justifies an extension. E-mail submission of assignments is not acceptable. Required Text: Eric Mintz, David Close, Osvaldo Croci, Politics, Power and the Common Good: An Introduction to Political Science, Fifth Edition (Toronto: Pearson Canada, 2018) (Available through York University Bookstore) Schedule of Class Sessions and Readings Term I Sept. 8 Course Organization What is Politics? Politics, Power and Authority Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 1 Sept. 15 Ways of Organizing Power: State, Nation and Sovereignty Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 2 Last date to enroll without instructor s permission is Sept. 20 Sept. 22 Ways of Organizing Democratic States Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 10 Sept. 29 Ways of Organizing Non-Democratic States Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 11 Oct. 6 Approaches to Understanding Democracy (1): Liberalism and Conservatism Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 3, pages 49-62 Oct. 13 First Examination In-class
Last date to enroll with permission of instructor is Oct. 18 Oct. 20 Approaches to Understanding Democracy (2): Socialism and Fascism Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 3, pages 62-73 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 No Class Reading Day New Additions to Understanding Democracy (1): Feminism Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 4, pages 75-83 Nov. 10 New Additions to Understanding Democracy (2): Environmentalism and Fundamentalism Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 4, pages 83-95 Nov. 17 Governing Ideologies and Public Policy Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 16 The first essay is due on Nov. 24 Nov. 24 Institutionalizing Democracy (1): Constitutions and the Courts Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 12 Dec. 1 Second Examination In-class Term Two Jan. 5 Institutionalizing Democracy (2): Multilevel Governance Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 13 Jan. 12 Institutionalizing Democracy (3): Parliamentary Systems Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 14
Jan. 19 Institutionalizing Democracy (4): Presidential and Semi- Presidential Systems Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 15 Jan. 26 Structures of Representation (1): Political Parties Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 6 Feb. 2 Structures of Representation (2): Election Systems and Campaign Structures Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 7, pages 147-164 Feb. 9 Structures of Representation (3): Interest Groups and Social Movements Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 8, pages 176-195 The last date to drop the course without receiving a grade is Feb. 9 Feb. 16 February 23 March 2 Third Examination In-class No Class Reading Week Structures of Representation (4): The Media and Democracy Movie: Rich Media, Poor Democracy Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 8, pages 195-203 March 9 Structures of Representation (5): Political Participation and Voting Behaviour Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 5 and Chapter 7, pages 164-173 March 16 Structures of Representation (6): Revolutionary Politics Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 9 The second essay is due on March 23
March 23 Politics and Development in the Global South Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 17 March 30 International Relations: Global Relations of States Required Reading: Mintz, Close and Croci, Chapter 18 April 6 Final Examination In-class