Department of Political
Science
Welcome to POLI 214 –
Introduction to Comparative Politics
2nd Semester
2012/2013
Lecturer: N-L. Kuditchar.
Lecture venue and time: Legon Campus (Group A) Central
Cafeteria Wednesdays 7:30 am-9:25 am
e-mail: lkuditchar@ug.edu.gh
Office: Room 14, Department of Political Science.
Office hours: Wednesday:10am-1pm, and by appointment
Course Description:
Introduction to Comparative Politics introduces
students to the major concepts and principles of comparative politics through
an intensely interactive and discussion-driven format. Each session will
combine student presentations, lectures, and discussion in a seminar format to
ensure a thorough understanding of the readings. Considerable emphasis is thus
placed on the student’s ability to, and interest in, participating in
discussion and respectful debate. Starting with methodologies of comparative
politics, the course continues with the application of theories to the study of
contemporary regime types and political phenomena. A wide array of concepts
such as nation and ethnicity, authoritarianism, democracy, and globalization,
among others, will be studied and discussed.
To complement the theories and methodologies of
comparative politics, in order to provide students with an empirical exposure
to real world countries and their politics, less developed and newly industrializing
states will be studied. A brief overview of the political history of these
countries, their political systems, as well as civil society and its
interrelations with the state are some of the elements this entails. The course
is divided in two sections: first, an examination of political science
concepts; and second, regime and country studies.
Required Text: Patrick
O’Neil. Essentials of Comparative Politics (Norton, 2006).
Recommended: Patrick O’Neil and Ronald Rogowski.
Essential Readings
Comparative
Politics (Norton, 2004).
Patrick O’Neil et.
al. Cases in Comparative Politics (Norton, 2007).
John
McCormick. Comparative Politics in Transition (Wadsworth
2007).
Course Expectations:
- Complete
all reading assignments by their due dates
- Participate
in class discussions
- Come to
class on a regular basis, and write interim assessment and final exam
- Ask
questions when you are unsure what the assignment is
- Write
complete, clear, concise and well-organized prose on exams
Grading: One Final Exam (70%
of final grade)
Section A Multiple Choice Questions (20 points)
Section B Short Answer Questions (50 points)
Section C An Essay of not more than three pages
(30 points)
Interim Assessment (30% of
final grade): A take-home assignment or
in-class test (To Be
Determined)
Class Attendance: It is important to attend class in order
to understand the readings and get a good grip of the topic under discussion
for a particular week.
There will be two exams in
POLI 214. The exams will
consist of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions. The exams will
cover class and assigned readings and class discussions. A short review will be
held in the class period prior to the date of the exam. Note: Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. (See
Student Handbook for penalties).
Success in POLI 214 will
depend on timely preparation for reading and studying assignments, preparation
for exams and attendance and participation in class discussion. You will be
expected to spend about 8-10 hours on the reading assignments per week.
An Active Learning Approach will be used in class to cover the course
material. This is an interactive mode of
learning, which requires student
interaction or participation in class discussion. In order for this method
to be effective, it is necessary to
prepare and study the lesson before coming to class. In order for an
effective learning atmosphere, please do
not come late to class.
Course Schedule:
PART I – CONCEPTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Weeks 1 & 2 Course
Introduction; Defining Political Science and Comparative Politics
O’Neil Ch.
Recommended: Roy Macridis, “A Survey of the Field of Comparative
Government.” In O”Neil and Rogowski, p. 2-10
Weeks 3 & 4 The State
O’Neil Ch.
Recommended: The Economist, “The Global Menace of Local Strife.” In
O’Neil and Rogowski, p. 80-84
Weeks 5 & 6 Political
Economy
O’Neil Ch.
Recommended: David Ricardo, “On Foreign Trade,” and The Economist,
“Trade Winds.” In O’Neil and Rogowski, p. 121-122; 122-126
PART 2 REGIME AND COUNTRY STUDIES
Weeks 7 & 8 Regime
Change and the Varieties of
Authoritarianism and Democracy
O’Neil Ch.
Recommended: Larry Diamond, “Thinking about Hybrid Regimes.” In O’Neil
and Rogowski, p. 166-177
Philippe C.
Schmitter and Terry Lynn Karl, “What Democracy
Is … and Is Not.” In O’Neil and Rogowski, p. 220-229
Weeks 9 & 10 Advanced
Democracies
O’Neil Ch.
Weeks 11 & 12 Less
Developed and Newly
Industrializing Countries;
Nigeria
O’Neil Ch.
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