COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 476: POLITICS OF INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES – USA/EUROPE, 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR.

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 476: POLITICS OF INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES – USA/EUROPE

University of Ghana

Department of Political Science

Second Semester, 2018/2019 Academic Year

Lecture: Tuesdays, 7:30am – 9:20am, JQB 09

Lecturer: Dr. Rosina Foli

Office:  Room 12, Political Science Dept.

E-mail: rfoli@gmail.com

Course Title	Politics of Industrialized Countries: US/Europe
Course Code	POLI 476
Purpose and Objectives	Course Description and Objectives: This is a comparative study of the institutional, economic and social politics of industrialized countries using two countries as examples. The countries selected for this academic year is United States of America and Great Britain. We will begin by learning about the field of comparative politics: its importance, methods and areas of interests and then, explore the political institutions of the selected industrialized countries as we delve into issues of representation and participation. The next section of the course will consider state and market relations, social policy, the welfare state and social welfare policies. Finally, students will examine some current phenomenon in the countries of interest such as Brexit, immigration and their impact on other parts of the world. Learning outcomes Students would be able to: Identify and describe the differences in national political systems and governance structures in selected industrialized countries Explain how the national differences reflect policy choices in fields such as social welfare, immigration, and response to crisis outside their borders Develop an appreciation of how ideology, leadership and history shapes governance systems and influences policy options Course Requirements: Students are expected to do the assigned weekly readings and participate in class discussion and group assignments, which are critical to this course. As part of the course, there will be interim assessment (IA) throughout the semester. The IA comprises an in-class exam, a research essay and class participation/assignment. The in-class exam will cover what we studied in the first half of the semester. Research essay: students are required to submit a research essay of not more than 2000 words (typed, double-spaced, times new roman in twelve-point font) which is analytical in nature rather than a descriptive effort. The question for the research essay is as follows: How has British membership of the EU shaped her domestic politics? The essay is due on 12th March 2019. In addition to the IA, will write a final examination on the entire course material at the end of the semester.  Grading System The breakdown of marks for the course assignments and final examination is as follows: ·         Interim Assessment - 30% o   Research essay: 10% o   In-class exam: 15% o   Class assignments: 5%            ·         Final Examination: 70%         ·         Total Mark/Grade: 100% Students should note that academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class.  (See University Handbook for penalties). The course material builds over time, and early mastery of the topics is critical to understanding later content. The exams are intended to encourage students to keep up with readings and course content. The comprehensive exams will encompass all lectures (including guest speakers), readings and class discussions. Please note to be successful in this course: ·         Read materials in advance of class and participate in class discussion. ·         Review materials regularly ·         Be abreast with contemporary issues internationally. Some sources for international news are Financial Times, the Washington Post, the online BBC news service, the New York Times and The Economist (which can be accessed through the library)
Disclaimer	The lecture schedule, policies, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating conditions, by mutual consent, and/or to ensure better student learning. Thank you.
Week No.	Date	Lecture Topics	Assigned Readings
1	5th   February, 2019	a)      Introductions b)      Course overview c)      Assessment
2	12th February, 2019	Introduction to comparative politics. ·   Why study politics comparatively	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 1
3	19th February, 2019	Governing Institutions in Democracies v  Executive and Legislatures – Presidential vs. Parliamentary Regimes: Power and Accountability	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 6
4	26th Feb., 2019	Governing Institutions in Democracies v  Executive and Legislatures – Presidential vs. Parliamentary Regimes: Power and Accountability	* Mannin, M.L., 2010, chapter 4 (pp 87 -103) * Mannin, M.L., 2010, chapter 8 (pp 199-204)
5	5th March, 2019	Institutions of Participation and Representation            v  The Electoral System v  Political Parties and Party Systems v  Civil Societies	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 7 (pp 324 – 367)
6	12th March, 2019	Institutions of Participation and Representation            v  The Electoral System v  Political Parties and Party Systems v  Civil Societies	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 7 (pp 324 – 367) * Skocpol, T., 2011: ‘Civil Society in the US’ Pls Note: Interim Assessment: Research Essays due today in class.
7	19th March, 2019	States and Markets v  The market, capitalism and the state v  Key economic debates	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 5 (pp 196 - 208)
8	26th March, 2019	Globalization, Economic Sovereignty and Development v  Wealthy countries – globalisation and economic sovereignty	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 10 (pp 512 - 526)
9	2nd April, 2019	Public Policies when Markets Fail v  Social Policy o   Welfare states o   Should the state provide social welfare? v  Healthcare and Health Policy v  Environmental Problems and Policy	*Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 11
10	9th April, 2019	Interim Assessment: In-Class Exam	Interim Assessment: In-Class Exam
11	16th April, 2019	Public Policies when Markets Fail v  Social Policy o   Welfare states o   Should the state provide social welfare? v  Healthcare and Health Policy v  Environmental Problems and Policy	Orvis & Drogus, 2014 chapter 11
12	23rd April, 2019	Recent changes in our case countries v  Migration (US) v  Brexit (Britain) v  Responses to other global phenomena
13	30th March, 2019	Revision
14	6th – 10th May 2019	Revision Week (No lectures)
15 -16	11th May – 2nd June, 2019	End of Semester Examinations

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READINGS

v  Orvis, Stephen and Carol Ann Drogus, eds. 2014. Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context. 3rd Edition. Los Angeles: CQ Press. (Various chapters)

v  Todd, Landman, 2008. Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction. Third Edition. New York: Routledge (Chapter 1)

v  Mannin, M.L., 2010. British government and politics: Balancing Europeanization and independence. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

v  Skocpol, T., 2011. Civil society in the United States. In The Oxford handbook of civil society. Oxford University Press. (This can be accessed online through google search)

v  Pérez-Liñán, A. (2005, February). Democratization and constitutional crises in presidential regimes: Toward congressional supremacy? Comparative Political Studies, 38(1), 51–74.

v  Campbell, J. L., & Pedersen, O. K. (2007, March). The varieties of capitalism and hybrid success: Denmark in the global economy. Comparative Political Studies, 40(3), 307–332.

v  Linz, Juan José. Presidential or parliamentary democracy: does it make a difference? 2005. http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABJ524.pdf

v  Zakaria, Fareed. "The rise of illiberal democracy." Foreign affairs (1997): 22-43.

v  John Gerring, Strom C. Thacker, and Carola Moreno. (2008) Are Parliamentary Systems Better? Comparative Political Studies Vol 42, Issue 3, pp. 327 - 359

v  Jean Tirole. (2014) Market Failures and Public Policy. Prize Lecture, December 8, 2014. https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economic-sciences/laureates/2014/tirole-lecture.pdf

v  Toth, F. (October 2012). The Choice of Healthcare Models: How Much Does Politics Matter? International Political Science Review 34(2). 159-172.

v  Hacker, J. S. (2004). Privatizing risk without privatizing the welfare state: The hidden politics of social policy retrenchment in the United States. American Political Science Review, 98(2), 243-260.