Time Schedule:
Susan H. Whiting
POL S 204
Seattle Campus
Political systems in a comparative framework. Traditional and contemporary approaches to the study of governments and societies in different countries. Offered: WSp.
Class description
Description: How can we understand the fundamental challenges facing attempts to establish stable regimes--not to mention democratic polities--around the world? How can we account for the immense disparity in life chances among citizens of different countries around the world? How do politics in other advanced, post-industrial democracies differ from politics in the United States? This course provides an introduction to comparative politics. Through comparisons among a diverse set of cases, you will learn how to evaluate competing explanations of the success or failure of democracy and economic growth round the world. You will learn how institutions of presidential vs. parliamentary systems, various electoral systems, and non-democratic polities work. You will learn how liberal vs. statist economic systems function. We will explore these issues using a variety of teaching materials.
Student learning goals
develop arguments based on evidence that account for political and economic outcomes in the world
learn explanations of political and economic development
learn evidence about political and economic outcomes in the world
General method of instruction
lecture, quiz section, textbook, films, novels
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Assignments: mid-term exam, final exam, and a writing assignment.
Grading: test 1: 25 %; test 2: 30 %; final paper: 30 %; class /quiz participation: 15 %.
