Fall 1999 Instructor: Dr. Richard Deeg
Tues-Thurs: 10:10 - 11:30 436 Gladfelter Hall
Place: EA 126 Tel.: 204-7123
office hours: Tues, Thurs 11:40am--12:30 pm, or by appt
e-mail: rdeeg@vm.temple.edu
course web site: astro.ocis.temple.edu/~rdeeg/ps52.html
TA: Ximena Varela
Course Description:
This course introduces students to some of the basic concepts used to analyze and compare the development and functioning of political systems - concepts such as democracy, authoritarianism, revolution and political development. These and other concepts will be examined in liberal democracies (Great Britain and Japan), communist/post-communist countries (the People's Republic of China and USSR/Russia), and developing/industrializing nations (Nigeria and Mexico). In the course we will examine first each country's political system and development individually, followed by a paired comparison of the two countries in each category.
Through this course, students should achieve a good understanding of the different forms of democratic systems, including parliamentary and presidential systems; the structure, problems, and dynamics of authoritarian (including communist) political systems; the newly emerging institutions of Europe; and the complex problems inherent in the processes of political and economic development. Students will compare the methods of political participation in different political systems and the political decisions and outcomes that characterize various systems.
This course meets the core requirement for International Studies. Political science majors are required to take either this course or PS 53, International Politics.
Required Textbooks:
John McCormick, Comparative Politics in Transition. (2nd Edition) Belmont: Wadsworth, 1998.
Rebecca Davis (ed.), Stand! Comparative Politics. Coursewise Publishing, 1999.
Students are also strongly encouraged to read regularly a major daily newspaper (such as the New York Times) and a newsweekly such as Time or, even better, The Economist. Virtually all of these are available on-line.
Course Requirements:
Scores on assignments and exams will be weighted as follows:
2 mid-term exams (15% each) 30%
Current Event Report 20%
Quizzes (best 2 of 3) 10%
Small Group Projects 15%
Final Exam 25%
All students will also be expected to attend all classes.
Tests/quizzes:
Quizes will be multiple choice and/or short answer.
The tests will contain short-answer and essay questions.
Small Group Projects:
Over the course of the semester there will be three small group projects. Each student will be assigned to a group of five. These projects will involve individual preparation prior to class and the production of a collective product during one class session. More information on this will follow during the semester.
Written Assignment:
Each student is required to do a written report (5 pages) about some
current event dealing with foreign politics and government. About mid-way
through the course, more specific instructions on this assignment will
be distributed.
Work turned in late, if accepted, will be penalized.
Tentative Course Schedule:
(Changes are likely and will be announced in class; you are responsible
for knowing any schedule changes).
T Aug 31 Course Introduction.
PART I: Liberal Democracies.
Th Sept 2 Principles of Political Analysis; Liberal Democracies
McCormick Chapter 1
Politics in Britain
T Sept 7 thru T Sept 14
Pol. Development and Culture
Institutions
Representation
Policies
Stand, Articles #15 and #16
QUIZ #1 Sept 16
Politics in Japan
Th Sept 16 thru Th Sept 23
Pol. Dev. and Culture.
Institutions.
Representation
Policies
T Sept 28 Small Group Project 1, Stand Articles #34 and #35
Th Sept 30 Mid-Term Test #1
PART II: Communist/Post-Communist Regimes.
T Oct 5 Communist and Post-Communist Countries
Politics in Russia
Th Oct 7 thru Th Oct 14
Pol. Development and Culture.
Institutions
Representation.
Policies
Stand, Article #14
Quiz #2 Oct 19
Politics in China
T Oct 19 thru T Oct 26
Political Development and Culture
Institutions
Representation
Policies Oct. 26 Video, "Will the Dragon Rise Again?"
Th Oct 28 Small Group Project #2, Stand Article #33
T Nov 2 Mid-Term Test #2
Part III: Developing/Industrializing Countries.
Th Nov 4 Newly Industrializing Countries, Stand Article #28
Politics in Mexico
T Nov 9 thru T Nov 16
Pol. Development and Culture
Institutions and Representation
Policies, Stand Article #31
Quiz #3 Nov 18
Politics in Nigeria
Th Nov 18 thru T Nov 30 (Nov. 25 - Turkey Day)
Pol. Development and Culture
Institutions and Representation
Policies
Writing Assignment Due on Nov 30
Th Dec 2 Small Group Project #3, Stand Articles #25, 26, and 27
T Dec 7 Study Day - No Class
Th Dec 9 Last Day of Class - Group Presentations and Review
Th Dec 16 Final Exam, 8:30-10:30am