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? Comparative politics contributes to answer major public policy questions facing us in the United States today. 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
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Texts: O'Neil, Essentials of Comparative Politics--textbook and reader
Class assignments and grading
Assignments: Mid-term, final exam, and a writing assignment.
Grading: Mid-term exam: 25 %; Final exam: 35 %; Short paper: 25 %; Class /quiz participation: 15 %.
