Course Syllabus

POL 571

Comparative Political Analysis

Credit Hours: 3

Fall, 2006

Class Location: UCTR

Class Meeting Time: WN

Instructor: Dr. William E. Carroll

Office Location: AB1 315D

Instructor Contact Information: Phone: 41469; pol_wec@shsu.edu

Office Hours: 10-11 MWTHF

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is the graduate “pro-seminar” in Comparative Politics: which means this is the course where you are introduced to the major theories, concepts, and methodologies of comparative political analysis. Of course theory sometimes sounds boring or daunting, or both, but it needn't be either. In any case, in Political Science as in any other discipline, theory is both the building block and the fruit of analysis. Whether it is grand theory or “middle range” theory, the pursuit of knowledge is stunted without theory – I hope to demonstrate this truth in the course (although I assume all of you may know this already). And like all other disciplines, Comparative Politics has its own sets of concepts: state, nation and nationalism, political culture, democratic transition, democratic consolidation, electoral systems, political clientele-ism, and social movements – to name just some. These represent the conceptual categories of comparative analysis. Finally, like all other disciplines, Comparative Politics has its “toolkit” of methods – those empirical, quantitative and qualitative, techniques and approaches to analysis. These we will learn by seeing: looking at what comparative scholars are actually doing, as they publish their work in books and journals. NB: It is fair to say that the course will have a “western/advanced industrial democracies” bias; but while not clearly elaborated in the course outline, the politics of developing/non-Western systems will not be ignored: for example, I will present and assign studies of China 's “inklings of democracy” ( Ogden ) and transition to a capitalist system.

Approach/Method of Instruction:

This is a graduate seminar, which means that it relies on each student conscientiously doing the assigned reading, coming to each seminar prepared (to discuss the readings and ancillary topics, ask and respond to pertinent questions), and fully willing to engage the material and each other (intellectually). There is much less reliance on formal lectures – though these I will do – than on informed discussion.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Analytical Skills: this of course is the very purpose of the seminar – to learn and practice the skills, techniques, and habits of comparative political analysis
• Critical Thinking: this likewise is inherent in the practice of comparative political analysis, critically evaluating theory and concepts, empirically and normatively
• Factual Knowledge: this is a “fringe benefit” of the seminar, acquiring substantive knowledge of other political systems and behaviors in the course of learning comparative politics

REQUIRED TEXTS

Almond, Powell, Strom, and Dalton Comparative Politics: A Theoretical Framework Third Edition, 2003 (or latest)

Dalton Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies Fourth Edition, 2006

Meyer and Tarrow The Social Movement Society: Contentious Politics for a New Century 1998 (or latest)

Needless to say, other readings will be assigned: these will either be placed on e-reserve or provided as handouts (or simply cited for the student to search and read).

No other text is required at the moment, but I may decide another text(s) is important enough to assign as well.

Apologies: Given the late substitution of myself as the instructor, necessitating on your part the return of texts already purchased, and my syllabus requiring entirely different texts: PLEASE ORDER THE TEXTS ON YOUR OWN FROM WHATEVER SOURCE, such as Amazon.com or abebooks.com.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance in seminar is required. It is a graduate seminar, meeting one night each week, so absences are seriously discouraged – and result in grade penalty

ASSIGNMENTS

Presentations: Each student will make two presentations to the class. The specific requirements of the presentation will be explained in class, but they will be essentially a summary and critical review of an assigned reading.

Journal Review: This will be a short critical review of a scholarly article/book chapter. The requirements of this project will be explained in class.

Paper: This is the larger written assignment: the paper can be original empirical work; critical review of existing empirical work; or a “theory piece.” Much more detail will be provided in class.

GRADING PLAN

The following are weighted contributions to the final grade:

  Presentations:     20% each (40%)

  Journal Review:   10%

  Paper:       30%

  Participation:     20%

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Working closely with classmates is encouraged, in all facets of seminar work. What is prohibited is plagiarism in written work.

CLASSROOM RULES OF CONDUCT: Each of us is to show respect to each other at all times.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week 1:   Introduction to Seminar: scope and topics of seminar

NB:     First Set of Presentations will begin week 4:

Comparative Politics as a Discipline: Issues; Systems/Functions; State; Performance:

Week 2:   Issues in Comparative Politics: Almond, et al, chapter 1; Stepan,

    Introduction: Problem Selection in Comparative Politics

Week 3:   Comparing Political Systems; Political Culture and Political Socialization:

    Almond, et al, chapters 2-3; appropriate chapters, Stepan

Week 4:   Interest Articulation, Interest Aggregation and Political Parties: Almond,   

    et al, chapters 4-5; appropriate chapters, Stepan

Week 5:   Government and Policy Making; Public Policy: Almond, et al, chapters 6-     7; appropriate chapters, Stepan

Other assigned readings (I will provide a separate reading list/bibliography, which will be made available either in handouts or, more likely, on e-reserve)

Mass Politics: Beliefs; Movements; Parties and Elections:

Week 6:   Nature of Mass Beliefs; Political Participation: Dalton , chapters 1-3

Week 7:   Protest Politics; Social Movements: Dalton , chapter 4; Meyer and Tarrow,

    Chapter 1

NB:     Second Set of Presentations will occupy weeks 8 through 13:

Week 8:   Protest and Social Movements: Rucht; Crozat; McCarthy and McPhail;

    Della Porta, Fillieule, and Reiter – in Meyer and Tarrow

Week 9:   Protest, Social Movements, and Democratic Transitions: Kubik; Hipsher;

    Klandermans, Roefs, and Olivier; Katzenstein; Keck and Sikkink – in

    Meyer and Tarrow

Week 10:   Values in Change; Issues and Ideology: Dalton , chapters 5-6

Week11:   Elections and Parties; Social Bases of Party Support: Dalton , chapters 7-8

Week 12:   Electoral Behavior: Partisanship, Attitudes, Representation: Dalton ,

    Chapters 9-11

Week 13:   Citizens and Democracy: Confidence/Dissatisfaction: Dalton , chapter 12

NB: This schedule allows for a whole class meeting to be devoted to a discussion of paper topics, including instructor feedback. Some topics - and presentations - will be got through more quickly than others, so the schedule is an approximation.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATIONS: Students will be asked to complete a course/instructor evaluation towards the end of the semester.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES will be accommodated in any way necessary and possible. Please let me know your needs early in the semester.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: Any student who needs to miss a class due to observance of a religious holiday will be accommodated in any way possible. Please let me know early in the semester.

Note Well: There is usually a disclaimer at the end of the syllabus, where the instructor notes that some elements of the syllabus are subject to change during the semester. Normally these refer to where, when, and how a topic will be covered – or dropped; when assignments are due; and more rarely, the addition or dropping of a written or reading assignment. All this is particularly true for this syllabus.