Introduction to Comparative Political Systems
Course Description: This course introduces the basic theoretical and geopolitical frameworks necessary to understand comparative politics. The course will be front-loaded with a focus on preparing students for the midterm exam. This course is not designated as an introduction to American politics and will thus not focus on U.S. electoral or political systems – I am happy to provide an introduction to American political systems if necessary, but will otherwise assume knowledge of the basic tenets of the American political system. The articles assigned are intended as discussion pieces and by no means reflect my personal ideology – constructive disagreement is welcomed. I strongly recommend that you read a relevant news source like The Economist or Financial Times on a regular basis in order to contribute to your weekly discussion assignments.
Course Policies and Expectations: please refer to the syllabus, at Introduction to Comparative Political Systems, Ike Sharpless, Fall 2009.pdf
Using this Page: We will primarily use this page to compile and examine current events assignments. Assignments are due by 5 PM the Thursday night before class and should pertain to the regions or topics discussed since the last assignment. Feel free to use the list of links I have provided in the syllabus (and which are available here for your convenience), or to find your piece elsewhere. The articles you find should generally be short enough for people to have a chance to browse them Thursday night and before class on Friday, but long enough that we can learn from them. A full-page Economist article is a good length. In order to receive credit for each assignment, you need to do one of the following two things: 1) write a short paragraph in the comments section of this page explaining why this article or piece caught your attention, and how you think it relates to our studies, or 2) write a short paragraph (or more, if you want) in the comments section of another student's post. You are of course free to do both; this forum is meant to be interactive, and you should feel free to comment however and wherever you want on the pbworks page.
Class Notes:
Sept. 4: Sept 4 discussion notes, intro to comparative politics.pdf
Sept. 9: Sept 9, comparative politics class discussion notes, Britain day 1.pdf
Sept. 11: Sept 11 class discussion notes, politics, British institutions and political system.pdf
Sept.14: Mon Sept 14, Comp Politics, Class Notes on Fukuyama, Huntington.pdf
Sept. 16: Sept 16, Wed class notes, comparative politics, Dahl and Sen.pdf
Sept. 21: Mon Sept 21, Comp Pol Class Notes, French Political History and Lijphart Essay.pdf
Sept. 23: Wed Sept 23, Politics Class Notes, French Political Institutions and Electoral System.pdf
Sept. 30: Sept 30 class notes, Comp Politics, Marx and Sassen on Race, the State, and Globalization.pdf
Oct. 7: Wed Oct 7, politics class notes, Brazil day 1, history and culture.pdf
Oct. 9: Fri Oct 9, Politics Class Notes, Brazil day 2, ICP Sections 3 and 4 and Farrell ch 4.pdf
Oct. 19: Oct 19 Comp Politics class notes, Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone.pdf
Oct. 21: Oct 21 Comp Politics class notes, Sidney Tarrow, A Movement Society.pdf
Oct. 26: Oct 26 politicsl discussion notes, Nigeria sections 1, 2 and 5.pdf
Oct. 28: Oct 28 politics class notes, Nigeria sections 3 and 4.pdf
Nov. 2: Nov 2, politics class notes, China day 1.pdf
Nov 4: Nov 4, Politics class notes, China sections 3 and 4.pdf
Nov. 9: politics class notes, India sections 1, 2, 5.pdf
Nov. 13: politics class notes, India day 2, sections 3 and 4.pdf
Video commentaries
References for first map quiz, Friday, Sept 25:
Map quiz details: I will select 20 European countries on Friday for you to fill in on the blank page. Each correct answer will be worth five points.
The list of quizzable countries includes the following 36 countries: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, (the Former Yugoslav Republic of) Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus
I will also select five of the following ten cities: Stockholm, London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Warsaw, Berlin, Bucharest, Kiev, Athens. Answering all five correctly and placing them in their correct geographical location will grant you a total of 10 extra points.
Africa map quiz next Friday: links available here
- Same format as the quiz on Europe: 20 countries with 5 capitals for extra credit.
- All of the following 40 countries are fair game (I've left some out): Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia
- I will select 5 of the following 10 capitals: Harare, Kampala, Khartoum, Mogadishu, Dakar, Kigali, Abuja, Tripoli, Nairobi, Accra
Videos:
General
On Fukuyama/Huntington/Dahl/Sen
Videos on France:
Videos on Brazil
Videos on Proportional Representation
Brazil Links and Resources
Historical and Economic Overview: “Commanding Heights”
On social capital and social movements
Videos on Nigeria
On Lagos
On Nigerian oil
Other videos
Religious conflict and Issues in Nigeria
Other links for Nigeria
Links on China
Videos on China
Links on India
Videos on India
Links on Iran
Videos on Iran
Videos on Electoral Reform and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) System
Links on Electoral Reform
For Monday (11/30): 3 Months worth of Economist articles in context - try to read all of these (they're only a few pages each, for the most part)
Videos for the Week in Review
Videos on globalization and related topics
Links on Globalization
Videos for final week
Useful Web Links: click here for the list of web links that is available in your syllabus. I may add to this list as the semester progresses, whereas the list on the syllabus will remain as it is. Feel free to add any other links that you feel may be of use to your fellow students in the comments section.
Course Documents are available here.
Relevant Assignment Dates:
Papers, Quizzes, Test
| Date |
Session Name |
Materials |
Assignment |
| 9/25 |
Map Quiz and Class Discussion |
map quiz format and links |
First map quiz - European Countries |
| 10/2 |
Current Events Assignment and Recap to Date |
short paper options |
Short paper due either via paper copy or submitted here |
| 10/9 |
Rapid Overview of Mixed Systems |
|
study guide for midterm provided and discussed |
| 10/16 |
Midterm Exam |
|
|
| 10/30 |
Map Quiz and Class Discussion |
map quiz format and links |
Second map quiz - African Countries |
| 11/13 |
India, day 2 |
book critique guidelines
|
CE Assignment, see below |
| 12/18 |
n/a |
|
long paper due either via email or here |
Current Events Assignments
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