PS 150

Intro. to Comparative Politics

PS 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics, Summer 2005 Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University

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Instructor Information

Michael Findley Phone: 801.422.4401 Email: [email protected]

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Office: 781 SWKT Office Hours: MWF 10–11; MW 4–5 Class Location: 231 Martin Bldg

Course Overview and Objectives

Political science 150 is an introduction to the methods and concepts of comparative politics and the world to which they are applied. Substantively, this course highlights major topics/concepts in comparative politics such as nationalism, institutions, democratization, and transitions. Methodologically, we emphasize the use of “science.” Throughout, we will examine a variety of countries in order to understand how scientific explanations and predictions bear out empirically. By the end of the course, students should be prepared to examine — comparatively and analytically — the politics of countries.

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Course Format

Because of the breadth of the field of comparative politics and the sheer number of countries in the world, we have to limit our focus. We will cover a number of the major concepts and examine focus countries in almost every session. The “focus country” approach allows us to look at a variety of countries and fits with Shively’s format. If there is one commonality in the course, it is the study of democracy and democratization. I eschew a strict lecture format. Given the size of the course, we will do our best to engage in a variety of activities including lectures, personal writing exercises, partner and group work, class discussions, video clips, demonstrations, problem-solving activities, debates, and other critical thinking exercises. I value and will solicit your input on class activities both at the beginning of the semester as well as around midterm. I will make every reasonable effort to incorporate these ideas in the classroom.

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Requirements Readings

The required textbook which can be purchased at the bookstore or via the web is: Shively, W. Phillips. 2004. Power & Choice: An Introduction to Comparative Politics. 9th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill. (8th ed. is ok) Because only one book is required for purchase, other articles will be placed on e-reserve at the library & you will be responsible for them. They are accessible here (password = fin150): http://docutek.lib.byu.edu/eres/courseindex.aspx?page=search. You will also need to read The Economist magazine. You can obtain a 12-week subscription for $19.95 or read copies in the library. Quizzes will be based on selected articles from this source. 1

PS 150

4.2

Intro. to Comparative Politics

Attendance and Participation

Attendance and participation are worth 10% of your grade. I expect all students to attend class regularly. On many days, we will spend a few minutes writing about various topics from the text or lecture. Occasionally, you will hand in these writings for credit. These writing activities will enable us to think critically and they will also guide some of our discussion. Furthermore, please finish the assigned readings by the date they appear in the syllabus. Read critically and be prepared to comment on the readings in class. I encourage you to ask questions and make germane comments at any time during class. Posting comments/questions to the discussion board on the course website may substitute for in-class participation.

4.3

Quizzes

Five quizzes will account for 10% of your grade. Quizzes will be based on selected articles from The Economist that I will identify for you. Quiz dates are noted below in §4.6.

4.4

Assignments

One paper will comprise 25% of your final grade. You will write a paper where you “create your own state.” In particular, you will apply what you have learned about different institutions, participation, and the challenges facing states to identify the most essential features of an “ideal” state. You will define the optimal criteria and choose various features to achieve this outcome. Emphasis will be placed on thinking analytically about your choices (justify them well!) and their proposed effects. The paper should be less than 7 pages in length. I will hand out much more detailed guidelines as the deadlines approach.

4.5

Exams

The midterm and final exams will account for 55% of your final grade (25% for the midterm and 30% for the final). The exams will consist of various types of questions including: multiple choice, definition, fill in the blank, and/or essay. As the exam approaches, I will hand out several resources to help you prepare, including handouts on: preparing for 150 exams, writing 150 essays, and study questions. Please bring an exam booklet to the exams.

4.6

Schedule of Important Dates Date

Assignment

Wed. June 29 Fri. July 8 Wed. July 13 Mon. July 18 Mon. July 25 Wed. Aug. 3 Fri. Aug. 5 Wed. Aug. 10

Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 Midterm Exam Quiz 4 Quiz 5 Paper Final Exam

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Time

In Class

11:00–12:50

PS 150

5 5.1

Intro. to Comparative Politics

Course Policies Make-up Exams and Assignments

No make-up exams or quizzes will be given unless either prior consent is obtained from the instructor or a valid excuse is obtained from the Dean of Students. I will consent to give makeup exams only in the case of a documented emergency or some other commensurate event. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class on the date indicated in the schedule. Papers arriving late will be subject to a 1/3 grade reduction (i.e., an A will be lowered to an A−, an A− to a B+, and so on). DO NOT turn in your papers (whether late or on time) by email OR by slipping them under my office door. If you turn in a paper late, you must take it to the Political Science Office (745 SWKT) and have one of the secretaries put a date/time stamp on it. Please make hard copies of your papers as you work on them. Do not be afraid to print out multiple rough drafts. I will not accept any excuses/pleas about erased disks or other similar “catastrophes.” Be responsible.

5.2

Assignment of Grades

Grades are not curved and will be assigned on the following scale: A = 94–100; A− = 90–93; B+ = 87–89; B = 84–86; B− = 80–83;...F = 63 or lower. If you have a complaint about how your exam (or paper) was graded, you must type a formal appeal addressing the problem. Please explain clearly what you originally wrote, why you wrote it, and how you think it (your original response) correctly answered the original question. Additionally, you must turn in the original exam (or paper) along with your typed appeal.

5.3

Online Resources

The syllabus, all grades, paper topics, lecture outlines, and more will be posted on blackboard, which is accessible through the BYU homepage. Although the lecture outlines will be posted here, do not assume that this exempts you from taking notes in class. The outlines will facilitate your note taking, but will not provide sufficient detail from which to study for exams.

5.4

Academic Integrity

I require and expect that all students will conduct themselves within University guidelines of academic honesty. In your papers, be sure to distinguish between your ideas and the ideas of others. On the exams, I expect you to do only your own work. If I suspect that any of your work is in violation of academic integrity, I will follow all university procedures and policies completely. More info can be found at this website: http://ce.byu.edu/cw/yms/2005/include/HonorCode June2002.pdf

5.5

Classroom Civility

Regrettably, a handful of students occasionally demonstrate insensitivity to other students and to instructors by disrupting classes unnecessarily. Arriving late for class, reading newspapers in class, packing up bags prior to the end of class, and cell phone use are all disruptive activities. Moreover, I will not tolerate incivility of one opinion to another. It is exciting and healthy to exchange a diversity of opinions, but in no case should anyone demean another because of his or her viewpoint.

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5.6

Intro. to Comparative Politics

Syllabus

Readings for this course may be changed on an ad hoc basis. For the most part this will not happen, but if so, I will give as much notice as possible.

5.7

Other Policies

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in programs, admissions, activities, and student-to-student sexual harassment. BYU’s policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the University but to students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the Equal Employment Office at 422.5895 or 367.5689 (24-hours); or contact the Honor Code Office at 422.2847. Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the University Accessibility Center (1520 WSC; 422.2767). Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the UAC. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You may contact the Equal Employment Office at 422.5895, D 282 ASB.

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Tentative Course and Reading Schedule

6.1

Comparative Politics and Political Science

Monday, June 20: Introduction • No reading; Introduction Wednesday, June 22: Critical Thinking About Politics • Shively, Chp 1 (3–18); Shively, Appendix (419–426) • Munck, 1998 (18–45) Friday, June 24: The Comparative Method • Lijphart, 1971 (682–693) • Collier, 1993 (106–119)

6.2

The State, Nation, and Policy

Monday, June 27: The State • Shively, Chp 3 (43–51, 67–69); Shively, Chp. 7 (155–166, 172–174) • Tilly, 1985 (169–191) • Focus Countries: Nigeria, Germany, (Europe) 4

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Intro. to Comparative Politics

Wednesday, June 29: States, Nations, and Supranations • Shively, Chp 3 (51–66, 69–73) • Wolf, 2001 194–199 • Fearon & Laitin, 2004 (5–43) • Focus Countries: Nigeria, Iraq, (Europe) Friday, July 1: Political Choices: Public Policy, Justice, & Efficiency • Shively, Chps 4 & 6 (75–99, 132–151) Monday, July 4: Holiday

6.3

(Democratic) Institutions, Participation, and Civic Culture

Wednesday, July 6: Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems • Shively, Chp 14 (315–333); Shively, Chp 15 (334-346, 350-355) • Focus Countries: India, Germany, France, Mexico Friday, July 8: Elections • Shively, Chp 10 (225–246) • McFaul & Petrov, 2004 (23–55) • Focus Countries: Israel, Nigeria, Russia Monday, July 11: Parties and Interest Groups • Shively, Chp 11 (247–270); Shively, Chp 12 (271–296) • Focus Countries: Soviet Union, Mexico, France, Japan Wednesday, July 13: Bureaucracies, Militaries, Courts • Shively, Chp 16 (357–371); Shively, Chp 17 (372–386) • Saudi Arabia, China, (Europe) Friday, July 15: Political Culture and Civil Society • Shively, Chp 7 (166–172) • Putnam, 1995 (65–78) • Varshney, 2001 (362–398) • Focus Countries: United States, India

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Intro. to Comparative Politics

Monday, July 18: Midterm Exam

6.4

Political Change

Wednesday, July 20: Social Movements • Shively, Chp 13 (297–314) • McAdam, Tarrow, & Tilly (3–37) • Focus Countries: Brazil, Spain Friday, July 22: Authoritarianism and Repression • Video: Dying to Be Free: Zimbabwe’s Struggle for Change • Focus Countries: Zimbabwe Monday, July 25: Dissidence and Revolution • Davies, 1962 (5–19) • Scott, 1986 (Chps 2 & 8) • Focus Countries: Iran Wednesday, July 27: Economic Development and Democratization • Shively, Chp 5 (100–131) • Ross, 2004 (337–356) • Focus Countries: Germany, Indonesia, (Africa) Friday, July 29: Transitions and Democratization I • O’Donnell and Schmitter, 1986 (3–32) • Focus Areas: Latin America, Southern Europe Monday, August 1: Transitions and Democratization II • Huntington, 1991 (3–30, 280–316) Wednesday, August 3: Transitions and Democratization III • Brown, 2001 (546–568) • Diamond, 1996 (20–37) • “Intimations of Mortality,” 2004 (159–162) • Focus Countries: Russia, China

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PS 150

6.5

Intro. to Comparative Politics

Impediments to & the Future of Democracy

Friday, August 5: Ethnic and Cultural Instability • Taras & Ganguly, 2002 (1–41) • Fearon & Laitin, 2003 (75–90) • Barber, 2004 (210–214) • Focus Area: Middle East, Africa Monday, August 8: Conclusions • Gurr, 2000 (52–64) • Kaplan, 1994 (44-76) • Diamond, 2000 (412–418) Wednesday, August 10: Final Exam, 11:00 a.m.

References [1] Barber, Benjamin. 2004. “Jihad vs. McWorld.” In Christian Søe, ed., Annual Editions: Comparative Politics: 03/04. Pp. 159–162. Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill Dushkin. [2] Brown, Archie. “Evaluating Russia’s Democratization.” In Archie Brown, ed., Contemporary Russian Politics: A Reader. Pp. 546–568. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [3] Collier, David. 1993. “The Comparative Method.” In Ada W. Finifter, ed., Political Science: The State of the Discipline II. Pp. 106–119. (Washington, D.C.: The American Political Science Association. [4] Davies, James. 1962. “Towards a Theory of Revolution.” American Sociological Review 27: 5–18. [5] Diamond, Larry. 1996. “Is the Third Wave Over?” Journal of Democracy 7 (3): 20–37. [6] Diamond, Larry. 2000. “The Global State of Democracy.” Current History December: 412–418. [7] Fearon, James, and David Laitin. 2003. “Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War.” American Political Science Review 97 (1): 75-90. [8] Fearon, James, and David Laitin. 2004. “Neotrusteeship and the Problem of Weak States.” International Security 28 (4): 5–43. [9] Gurr, Ted R. 2000. “Ethnic Warfare on the Wane.” Foreign Affairs 79 (3): 52–64. [10] Huntington, Samuel. 1991. The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. Pp. 3–31, 280–317. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. [11] “Intimations of Mortality.” 2004. In Christian Søe, ed., Annual Editions: Comparative Politics: 03/04. Pp. 210–214. Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill Dushkin. 7

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[12] Kaplan, Robert. 1994. “The Coming Anarchy.” The Atlantic Monthly February: 44–76. [13] Lijphart, Arend. 1971. “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method.” American Political Science Review 65 (3): 682–693. [14] McAdam, Doug, Sidney Tarrow, and Charles Tilly. 2001. “What Are They Shouting About.” Dynamics of Contention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 3–37. [15] McFaul, Michael, and Nikolai Petrov. 2004. “Elections.” In Michael McFaul, Nikolai Petrov, and Andrei Ryabov, eds., Between Dictatorship and Democracy: Russian Post-Communist Political Reform. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. [16] Munck, Gerardo. 1998. “Canons of Research Design in Qualitative Analysis.” Studies in Comparative International Development Fall: 18–45. [17] O’Donnell, Guillermo, and Philippe Schmitter. 1986. Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies. Pp. 3–32. Baltimore, Md: Johns Hopkins University Press. [18] Putnam, Robert. 1995. “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital.” Journal of Democracy 6 (January): 65–78. [19] Ross, Michael. 2004. “What Do We Know About Natural Resources and Civil War?” Journal of Peace Research 41 (3): 337–356. [20] Scott, James. 1986. Weapons of the Weak: Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Chps 2–8. [21] Taras, Raymond, and Rajat Ganguly. 2002. Understanding Ethnic Conflict: The International Dimension. 2nd ed. Chp. 1. New York: Longman Publishers. [22] Tilly, Charles. 1985. “War Making and State Making as Organized Crime.” In Peter Evans, Dietrich Rueschemeyer, and Theda Skocpol, eds., Bringing the State Back In. Pp. 169–191. New York: Cambridge University Press. [23] Varshney, Ashutosh. 2001. “Ethnic Conflict and Civil Society: India and Beyond?” World Politics 53 (3): 362–398. [24] Wolf, Martin. 2001. “Will the Nation-State Survive Globalization.” Foreign Affairs January/February. 194-199.

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