Political Science (PSCI) 3600.001
Comparative Politics
Dr. John Ishiyama
Office: 166 Wooten Hall
Office Hours: 11:00 am- 12:30 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays and by appointment
Office Phone: 565-4326
Email:
There is a blackboard vista site for this course where all copies of documents will be placed (e.g. the syllabus).
I. Goals and Objectives of the Course: This course is designed as a general overview of the subfield of comparative politics. This is not a current events course, although certainly current events affect the substance of what we study. This course is primarily designed to provide both a broad overview of major theoretical approaches to the study of comparative politics, the method by which comparativists compare political phenomenon across nationstates, and the application of these approaches and methods of comparison to the study of political development and comparative political systems. Thus, the readings illustrate both the variety of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to studying comparative political development.
One of the primary goals of this course is to promote the analytical skills of the student. This involves not only exposure to the practice of conducting analysis (such as explaining why something occurs) but also the ability to apply academic learning to real world problems. To help cultivate such skills this course will be centered around a “problem solving” exercise- how to build democracy in countries that are currently not democratic. During the course of the term will be investigating some of the theoretical principles we will be covering. These include the relationship between economics and democracy, culture and democracy, and institutions and democracy.
In the real world, people collaborate to solve problems-- collaboration is a skill. To promote active student collaboration, during the course of the term there will be a collaborative research exercise, in which students, working together as a research group, will act to formulate a “constitution” regarding the democratization of one of five countries: (which we will choose randomly on the first day of class). In this project, each groups will be asked (if these countries were to democratize) to formulate a constitutional design that would be most appropriate for this country (different plans can be presented if there is dissent in the group). This constitutional design will include the design of executive power, the structure of the legislature, the electoral system, the territorial division of power and the design of the judiciary. These constitutional designs will be presented to the class during three class sessions (scheduled for November 30-December 9). Each individual in the group will be ready to present. I will randomly select someone in the group to answer questions regarding the solution the group came up with. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS EXERCISE IS NOT ABOUT IDEOLOGY. RATHER IT IS DESIGNED TO BE AN EXERCISE IN LINKING ANALYSIS WITH POLICY PRACTICE. LEAVE YOUR IDEOLOGY OUTSIDE OF THIS EXERCISE.
A final goal of this course is to hone skills which can be used outside of political science-such as research skills. To achieve this goal, students will complete a major research project on one of a set of specified topics: The effects of the electoral system, the effects of presidentialism, the effects of judiciaries, the effects political parties, the effects of political culture, the effects of the economy, on some aspect of politics in a country in transition other than the one that is being presented in the group project. The United States, Western European countries, and Japan cannot be chosen as a paper topic. If you are unsure of the country to be selected for your paper, please consult with the instructor.
II. Texts: There are two required texts for this course:
William Roberts Clark, Matt Golder, Sona Nadenichek Golder(2008)Principles of Comparative Politics Washington:CQ Press ISBN: 978-0-87289-289-7
Patrick O’Neil, Karl Fields, Don Share (2009) Cases in Comparative Politics (Third Edition) New York: W. W. Norton & CompanyISBN-10: 0393933776; ISBN-13: 978-0393933772
There will also be some additional readings that are available via jstor or on the blackboard vista site as indicated on the syllabus.
III. University of North Texas--Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism:
Academic Integrity. (See UNT Policy 18.1.16 at
Categories of Academic Dishonesty.
Cheating. The use of unauthorized assistance in an academic exercise, including but not limited to:
- use of any unauthorized assistance to take exams, tests, quizzes or other assessments;
- dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments;
- acquisition, without permission, of tests, notes or other academic materials belonging to a faculty or staff member of the University;
- dual submission of a paper or project, or re-submission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor;
- any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage on an academic assignment.
Plagiarism. Use of another’s thoughts or words without proper attribution in any academic exercise, regardless of the student’s intent, including but not limited to:
- the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement or citation.
- the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or by an agency engaged in selling term papers or other academic materials.
Forgery. Altering a score, grade or official academic university record or forging the signature of an instructor or other student.
Fabrication. Falsifying or inventing any information, data or research as part of an academic exercise.
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty. Helping or assisting another in the commission of academic dishonesty.
Sabotage. Acting to prevent others from completing their work or willfully disrupting the academic work of others.
Available Academic Penalties
The following academic penalties may be assessed at the instructor’s discretion upon determination that academic dishonesty has occurred. Admonitions and educational assignments are not appealable.
Admonition. The student may be issued a verbal or written warning.
Assignment of Educational Coursework. The student may be required to perform additional coursework not required of other students in the specific course.
Partial or no credit for an assignment or assessment. The instructor may award partial or no credit for the assignment or assessment on which the student engaged in academic dishonesty, to be calculated into the final course grade.
Department of Political Science POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The Political Science Department adheres to and enforces UNT’s policy on academic integrity (cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty and sabotage). Students in this class should review the policy (UNT Policy Manual Section 18.1.16), which may be located at Violations of academic integrity in this course will addressed in compliance with the penalties and procedures laid out in this policy.”
IV. University of North Texas-Statement of ADA Compliance:
The Political Science Department cooperates with the Office of Disability Accommodation to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Please present your written accommodation request on or before the sixth class day (beginning of the second Day of classes).
V. Course Requirements
a) There will be three exams scheduled for this term
Two In Class Major Exams: = 200 pts (100 pts each exam)
A comprehensive major final examination = 125 points
b) One Research Paper(1015 pages)
Completed paper due last day of finals week, by 5:00 pm = 100 pts
c) Group Panel Participation
Individual Participation on the panel will be worth 25 points.
Group project is worth 50 points for each student (grade is based in part of peer assessment of participation and contribution in the project)
The total number of points for this class = 500
VI. Policy on attendance: I do not take regular attendance-- however I will take “spot attendance”. Thus, if you are not in class consistently I will know and this will affect my evaluation of your performance. Also since much of the exam material is based on class lectures, it would be in your best interest to attend regularly
VII Schedule of lecture topics and readings:
August 26: Introduction to the course (What is this course about?)
No readings
August 31- September 7: The origins of Comparative Politics and structural functionalism
Readings: Clark, Golder, Golder chps 1-3
John Ishiyama Fundamentals of Comparative Politics chp 1 (forthcoming, Wiley/Blackwell Publishers (on Blackboard /Vista)
NO CLASS SEPTEMBER 2- AT APSA CONFERENCE
September 7- 23 Modernization, the political consequences of economic development and dependency
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chps 4 & 6
John Ishiyama Fundamentals of Comparative Politics chp 3 (forthcoming, Wiley/Blackwell Publishers (on Blackboard /Vista)
September 28: Critiques of Modernization Theory: The New Statism
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chp 5
September 30- October 5: Culture and Ethnic Politics
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chp 7
John Ishiyama Fundamentals of Comparative Politics chp 4 (forthcoming, Wiley/Blackwell Publishers (on Blackboard /Vista)
October 7; First Examination
October 12: Civil Society
Readings : Michael Foley and Bob Edwards (1996) “The Paradox of Civil Society” Journal of Democracy Vol 7 no.3., pp.38-52 (available electronically at
October 14: Democratic Transitions
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chp 8
October-19-21: Electoral Systems and Political Parties
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chp 12-13
October 26: Executives and Legislatures
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chp 11
October 28: Judiciaries & Federalism
Readings Clark, Golder, Golder chp 14
November 2: Second Examination
November 4: Historical Appoaches to Democracy and Democratization
Readings John Ishiyama Fundamentals of Comparative Politics chp 2 (forthcoming, Wiley/Blackwell Publishers (on Blackboard /Vista)
November 9:Old Democracies: Britain, France
Readings: O’Neil, Fields, Share, chps 2 & 4
November 11-16: Post War Democracies: Germany, Japan, India
Readings: O’Neil, Fields, Share, chps 5 & 6 & 9
November 18-23Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Russia, Mexico, Nigeria
Readings: O’Neil, Fields, Share, chps 7 & 11 & 14
Presentations November 30, December 7, December 9
NO CLASS DECEMBER 2
Final Examination: Tuesday, December 14, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Final Papers are due Friday, December 17, NO LATER THAN 5:00 pm