Political Science 2 Comparative Government and Politics (#2010 on Tuesday and Thursday)

Assistant Professor David J Uranga

Classroom C360, Office C405

Course Hours 1:00 pm-2:35pm

Office Hours M-Th 9am-10am

Phone Number: 626 585-7750

Website:

I - Introduction

Welcome to the Wonderful World Wide web based Study of Comparative Politics: A Global Approach (Pol Sc 2) taught by yours truly: David J Uranga! During this semester, we will study “Comparative constitutional principles, governmental institutions and political processes in developed, developing and least developed nations. Our emphasis will include a greater respect for social scientific methodology and a global understanding of various governments.” We will use Michael Sodaro’s textbook and combine its social scientific and global approach with John McCormick’s case study approach to accomplish two main themes: First, to master the hypothesis testing method and second, to apply it McCormick’s seven world’s classification system. Each student shall be able to apply and comparatively classify regimes and explain the impact of globalization upon a liberal democracy through marginal states.

II – Texts

Michael Sodaro. Comparative Politics: A Global Approach, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill,New York, 2004

John McCormick. Comparative Politicsin Transition.Thomson:New York, 2004.

You will need you student identification number and pin number to access the web ct based website that I have created at

III – Grading

Your grade will be determined by homework, tests, an oral presentation and written project. The grading breakdown is as follows:

Four Homework:20.0%

Four Mixed Exams:40.0%

1 Group Created Hypothesis :20.0%

1 Group/Oral Presentation Hypothesis20.0%

Your course grade will be out of 1000 possible points. There is NO EXTRA CREDIT!

Letter Grades will then be assigned on the following basis:

90%-100% (900-1000)A

79% - 89% (790-899)B

68% - 78% (680-789)C

56% - 67% (560-679)D

Below 56% (Below 560)F“Love me Two Times!”

IV– Four Homework Assignments and Four Essay Exams-{40%}

Each student will complete four homework assignments and take four “mixed exams’ that include identifications, short answer and a long essay question for each of the four exam periods. Below are the scheduled readings, homework assignments and exam schedule. We will cover most of Sodaro’s theoretical chapters in class; we will cover especially the first half of McCormick in class and the hypothesis teamswill cover the other chapters through your research.

V – Our ScheduleReadingsDue dates = Thursdays

Week / Sodaro and McCormick / Homework, Tests+ Groups
One / Sodaro 1, McCormickIntro / Homework #1 given
Two / Sodaro 2, McCormick1 / Sign up to do groups!
Three / Sodaro 3-4, McCormick2 / Homework #1 due
Four / Exam One (blue book) / Exam 1 given
Five / Sodaro 5, McCormick 4 / Homework #2 given; Groups
Six / Sodaro 6, McCormick 5 / Groups possible
Seven / Sodaro 7, / Homework #2 due
Eight / Exam Two / Exam 2 given
Nine / Sodaro 8-9, McCormick 6 / Homework #3 given
Ten / Sodaro 10 / Groups
Eleven / Sodaro 11, McCormick 8 / Homework #3 due
Twelve / Exam Three / Exam 3 given
Thirteen / Sodaro 12, McCormick 9 / Homework #4 given
Fourteen / Sodaro 13, / Hypothesis Project due
Fifteen / Sodaro 14, / Homework #4 due
Sixteen / Final Exam / Final

VI – Your hypothesis team and term paper: {worth 40%}

The hypothesis team (six students comprise a team) will research, will collectively write a 3-5 type written hypothesis testing paper on a developing nation state or a marginal state, and finally each team will orally present their findings in class and in the following manner:

Presenter of the Team Hypothesis: Present your “educated guess” about the supposed positive or negative impact of ______upon ______. An example of a guess might be: Lower tariffs should greatly increase the national wealth of Nigeria.

Presenter of the IndependentVariable: Clearly identify the independent variable (the factor that explains an outcome). An example of this would be Lower tariffs.

Presenter of the Dependent Variable: Clearly identify the dependent variable (the outcome +/- that occurs due to the changing variable).An example of this would be national wealth of Nigeria.

Presenter of the Expectation: A clear statement of what the group would expect to find if the independent variable directly (positively or negatively) affects the outcome/dependent variable (positively or negatively). An example of this be the following statement: We expect to find that an increase in access to higher technology markets will create a higher likelihood of political instability in Iran.

Presenters of the Evidence: Two presenters will clearly describe what the group found! The first presenter will state what information supportsyour original hypothesis? The other presenter will provide counterfactual data that contradicts the original “guess”.

Presenter of the Group and now your Conclusions:As a group, what conclusions do you draw based upon your findings or discovery? Did the evidence (supportive and counterfactual) impact your original hypothesis?? Obviously your group’s conclusions are still tentative and your group should declare them to be! If your group feels that further study is needed on the hypothesis, the presenter should say so.

After your oral presentation is completed, please answer questions that I or your colleagues may have regarding your hypothesis. The oral is 200 points and the written paper is another 200 points; the oral presentations may occur earlier than the due date of the hypothesis paper (14th week=due date of the hypothesis project), so you may present without having finished your project. It is highly recommended, however, that each team provide to me an outline of your oral defense of the hypothesis. {hint, hint}

VII – Miscellaneous

  1. Make-ups(for medical reasons only please) for the in class essays shall occur within a week of each test and are in to occur in C337. Contact Chris or me to schedule a makeup.
  2. Cheatingon any exam or plagiarizing on the hypothesis equals a zero score and possible disciplinary action if warranted.
  3. Excessive absences in class (two or more) = drop time! Please come to class fully prepared to discuss the material presented to you in the book, in lecture, and in the videos. You will do well in this course if you do.

VIII– Information on the Instructor.

Professor David Uranga received his BA California State University, Northridge in 1987, and his MA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1989. He began teaching in 1987 at Cal State Northridge. He has taught at GlendaleCommunity College, College of the Canyons, and here at PasadenaCityCollege. You can reach Professor Uranga at . His TA’s name is Christopher Castaneda and his email is