Political Science 2053

Section 2
INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Course Syllabus
Spring 2010

Class Schedule: MWF 12:40-1:30PM Classroom: 138 Lockett

Instructor: David Iles III Phone: [225]-241-7017
Office: Stubbs 308 E-mail: diles1@tigers.lsu.edu
Office Hours: 1:30-3:30 MW and by appt.

Course Overview: We will examine over the course of the semester the central themes, theories, concepts,
and questions of the contemporary study of comparative politics. This means that our course will be
primarily thematic. Representing such a diverse field of study in one course is practically impossible;
therefore, the objective is to acquire a basic knowledge of the basic concerns and approaches of the field.
These will prove vital for an understanding of how political institutions, actors, and processes operate around
the world and how they affect society, culture, and the economy.

Course Objectives: First and foremost, this course aims to form the foundation for a broad theoretical and
empirical knowledge of the concerns of the field of comparative politics. At the end of this course, students
should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the relationships between individuals, actors, and
processes across different political systems both historical and contemporary.

In recognition that this course fulfills General Education requirements, we will seek to obtain a critical
perspective on our politics and the politics of other parts of the world. More generally, and perhaps most
importantly, “[G]eneral education courses are not hurdles to be overcome; rather, they are the means by
which students learn to think, describe, interpret, and analyze the world. Their primary aim is to educate,
rather than train, and to instill a desire for life-long learning.” For more information regarding General
Education requirements and the objectives of courses like this, see the LSU General Catalog.

Thus, a core objective in this course is to facilitate and/or cultivate a sense of critical awareness of the world
beyond our own. In our everyday lives, we generally seek to make sense of the world immediately around us.
Beyond this, however, we tend to either ignore or leave to others the task of understanding. This is certainly
the case with the world outside of the borders of the United States. Many of us are absorbed in our personal
concerns, but event after event testifies to the need for at least a basic concern and understanding of the
cultures and politics of others – of other countries and other peoples. As an introduction to and a broad
overview of comparative politics, this course aims to cultivate such a basic understanding or critical
awareness.

Required Text Book: Caramani, Daniele. Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Course Organization: The course is divided into three parts. Part I will form the foundation of the course by
introducing the history, concepts, theories, and methodologies of Comparative Politics. Part II will explore
democracy and dictatorship and the relation of the political system to society. Special attention will fall on
the political institutions of democracy from legislatures to party systems to federalism. Part III of the course
will look at the actors and processes involved in politics from political parties to social movements to political
communication.

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Course Requirements Grade Scale

 Two Country Paper 25% A = 100-90

 Participation 20% B = 89-80
 Part I Exam 10% C = 79-70
 Mid-Term Exam 15% D = 69-60
 Final Examination 30% F = 59-0

CR.1 The core of comparative politics as a scientific activity is the comparison of political phenomena
across political units. This paper will be explicitly comparative. Thus, it will involve the careful exploration of
the similarities and differences of two countries. The specific technical and substantive requirements of this
paper are provided on a separate assignment sheet.

CR.2 Socrates taught us many things, one of the most important of which is the value of dialogue and
discussion in the search for knowledge. The classroom especially benefits from reasonable and engaged
discourse. Students should come to class prepared for an active engagement with the assigned readings.
Attendance (See Student Responsibility), asking questions, and offering critical comments are the most
important methods of participating in class. Another crucial element of participation involves quizzes. In
order to determine whether you are reading the assigned readings, I reserve the right to give spontaneous
quizzes in the first five minutes of class. I may also give you advanced warning and a specific supplementary
reading the quiz will draw on. If you miss a quiz you will not be able to make it up. These will be designed to
capture your basic understanding of the readings before the day’s lecture and discussion begins.

CR.3 Your first examination is a take-home exam. You will have the weekend to complete it. Failure to
turn in the exam by 1:30PM February 8th whether in class or by e-mail will result in an ‘F’ with absolutely no
exceptions. Through this exam I will evaluate your progress in understanding and applying basic knowledge
of the prominent concepts, methodological approaches, theoretical traditions, and the history of the field. It
thus concludes the first Part of this course: Histories, Concepts, Theories, and Methods.

CR.4 Your mid-term examination will evaluate your progress in understanding and applying basic
knowledge of democratic and authoritarian regimes, civil society, and various political institutions. It thus
concludes the second part of the course: Regimes, Societies, and Institutions. (See Student Responsibility
for the make-up policy). This will be in class and closed-book examination. You are required to bring a blue
book. Date: March 12, 2010.

CR.5 Your final examination will evaluate your progress in understanding and applying basic knowledge
of the actors (political parties, social movement organizations, etc.) and processes (contention,
communication, etc) involved in domestic political activity. A brief section will re-evaluate your progress on
the concerns of Part I and Part II. The final examination thus concludes the third part of this course, Actors
and Processes, and has a small cumulative element as well, thus concluding the course as a whole. Everyone
is required to take this exam regardless of grade.

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Student Responsibility: All assignments must be turned in before or on the due date. Late work will receive
a 20% reduction every day it is late and it will be graded harshly. There are no makeup exams except under
extreme circumstances. These circumstances must be documented, and I must have access to these
documents. Examinations that are not taken or assignments that are not turned in will receive an ‘F.’

You are responsible for attendance at all class meetings. Class discussion will often involve critical
examinations of the assigned readings, not mere presentation of the text. Class lectures and discussion will
draw from your assigned readings and outside sources. The classroom is a unique learning environment;
taking advantage of this opportunity will help you through the course. If you did not attend the first day of
class and/or added the class late, all class policies apply equally to you. It is your responsible to catch up on
the class periods you missed.

Arrive on time for the tests. Once the first student has completed a test and left the room, no late-comers will
be allowed to take the test. Late-comers will have to take the make-up exam on the last day of class. If a
student misses the make-up exam or the final exam, there are no additional make-up finals or make-up make-
ups. The student will receive a zero for the missed exam.

Laptops are allowed, but only for purposes pertaining to this course. Although I understand the necessity of
cell phones and other devices that announce themselves unexpectedly in the middle of class thereby rudely
interrupting the instructor or fellow students…

Special Needs: Any student with a disability that qualifies for accommodations should contact the Office of
Disability Services. With the appropriate documentation test accommodations will be provided.

Communication: If the readings or class discussion are too difficult or unclear for you, please ask questions.
I am eager to help you in class, in my office, or by e-mail so long as you are receptive and concerned about the
quality of your work. In addition, daily readings guides, supplementary readings, and grades will be posted
on Moodle.

Academic Integrity: It is your responsibility to know what plagiarism is and that it is an unacceptable
practice, but here is a clarification. “All academic work will be done by the student to whom it is assigned
without unauthorized data or help of any kind. A student who supplies another with such data or help is
considered deserving the same sanctions as the recipient. Specifically, cheating, plagiarism, and
misrepresentation are prohibited.” Utilizing the work of others without responsible and accurate citation
only serves to harm your ability to understand the material and produce your own creative work. If you have
any questions about proper citation, please ask me or refer to a highly regarded manual, i.e., Turabian’s or
Chicago Manual. I am more than eager to help you honestly avert charges of academic dishonesty. For more
information please refer to the LSU undergraduate bulletin.

Course Readings: Nearly every class day will be accompanied by an assigned reading(s), typically between
15 and 25 pages in length. Most will be drawn from your textbook, but some will not. I will provide access to
these supplemental pieces via Moodle. Also via Moodle, I will provide a brief clarification and a series of
questions pertaining to each reading in order to draw out some of the issues that will be discussed in class or
ones that will prove important but will not be brought up in class. In addition, I will post some interesting
and/or important news articles and other supplemental materials at random throughout the semester on
Moodle. You are not obligated to read these materials unless a quiz draws on them, but I guarantee you they
will not take more than 3-5 minutes of your time. Finally, the reading schedule provided below is subject to
change at anytime throughout the semester. You will be given more than sufficient time to prepare in such an
event.

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 TENTATIVE SEMESTER SCHEDULE
____________________

PART I: HISTORY, CONCEPTS, THEORIES, METHODS

1/20 Introduction/Syllabus
1/22 What is Comparative Politics? Caramani: 1-22
2 • HISTORY & THEORY
1/25 History of Comparative Politics Caramani: 26-34, 40-42
1/27 Theoretical Perspectives Caramani: 45-48
Lichbach & Zuckerman: 242-260
1/29 Theoretical Perspectives II Caramani, Ch. 2: 48-60
3 • METHOD & CONCEPTS
2/1 Methodology in Comparative Politics Caramani, Ch. 3: 63-80.
2/3 Political Organization Caramani, Ch. 4: 84-106
2/5 Nation, Market, Society Anderson, Ch. 1: 1-7
Swedberg, “Markets as Social Structures”: 255-271
PART 1 EXAM (Take-Home)

PART II: REGIMES, SOCIETIES, AND INSTITUTIONS

4 • DEMOCRACY
2/8 What is Democracy? Caramani: 113-130
DUE: PART 1 EXAM
2/10 Democracy and Development Przeworski et al: 78-90, 92-106
2/12 Democracy and Compliance Przeworski: 10-37
5 • DEMOCRACY
2/15 MARDI GRAS MARDI GRAS
2/17 Political Culture Caramani, Ch 17: 420-442.
2/19 State and Society: Case Study Bermin, ‘Civil Society and the Collapse of the Weimar
Republic”
6 • DICTATORSHIP & INSTITUTIONS
2/22 Authoritarianism Caramani, Ch. 6: 134-151
2/24 Authoritarianism: Case Study Skidmore: 44-78
2/26 Courts and Constitutions Caramani: 218-227, 230-235
7 • INSTITUTIONS
3/1 Federalism and Government Caramani: 273-277, 190-195, 201-208
3/3 Bureaucracy and the Welfare State Caramani: 209-213, 267-273, 530-538
3/5 Legislatures Caramani, Ch. 7: 160-173
8 • INSTITUTIONS
3/8 Cleavages and Party Systems Caramani: 319-327
3/10 Party Systems & Electoral Systems Caramani: 241-251, 327-332, 335-338
3/12 MID-TERM EXAM DUE: CURRENT EVENT APPROVAL

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 PART III: ACTORS AND PROCESSES

9 • POLITICAL ACTORS
3/15 Who Acts in Politics? Frey, “The Problem of Actor Designation in Political
Analysis:” 127-144, 146-148
3/17 Political Parties Caramani, Ch. 12: 294-314
3/19 Interest Groups Caramani, Ch. 14: 349-363
10 • POLITICAL PARTICIPATION & VOTING
3/22 Political Behavior & Collective Action Caramani, Ch 18: 446-468
3/24 Political Sophistication Gordon & Segura, “Cross-National Variation in the
Political Sophistication of Individuals: Capability or
Choice?”
3/26 Voter Turnout Aldrich, “Rational Choice & Turnout”: 246-252, 261-270
11 • VOTING
3/29 Parties and Voters Caramani 339-345
3/31 Economics and Voters No Readings
4/2 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
4/5 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
4/7 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
4/9 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
12 • CONTENTION
4/12 Evolution of Contentious Politics Tarrow, Ch. 2-4: 29-67
4/14 Classical, Rational, and Cultural Models Caramani: 393-399
4/16 Political Opportunity Caramani: 399-416
13 • THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS
4/19 MOVIE: The Battle of Algiers
4/21 MOVIE: The Battle of Algiers
4/23 MOVIE: The Battle of Algiers & Discussion
14 • POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
4/26 Media and Politics Schudson, “The News Media as Political Institutions”
4/28 Political Discourse and Opinion Gamson, Ch. 7: 117-134
4/30 Political Information and New Media Orwell, “Politics and the English Language”
Caramani: 484-489
15 • BEYOND
5/3 European Union Caramani, Ch. 23: 574-598
5/5 Globalization Caramani: 603-622
DUE: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
5/7 MAKE-UP EXAM

5/12 FINAL EXAM? TBA

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