INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS Political Science ...

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INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS. Political Science 240. University of Richmond. Fall 2006. Professor: Vincent Wei-cheng Wang. Section 01.
INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS Political Science 240 University of Richmond Fall 2006 Professor: Vincent Wei-cheng Wang Office: Weinstein 202B Phone: 289-8533 E-mail: [email protected]

Section 01 Class time: MWF 9:20-10:10 am Classrooms: WSTN 204 (MW); JPSN G21 (F) Office hours: MW 10:15-12:00, TTh 4:00-5:00

Course Description and Objectives The importance of understanding “others” assumes more urgency in a post-911 world. This practical concern dovetails with the intellectual curiosity that humans are by nature comparative. For those that think “beyond the water’s edge,” the political world is eminently comparative. Why is Britain a monarchy, but the United States a republic? Why do many countries select their leaders by popular vote, but the U.S. selects its president by an electoral college? Why do only two major political parties rotate in power in the U.S., but there have been more than 50 governments in Italy since 1945? Why is India “the world’s largest democracy,” and yet China “the world’s last communist giant,” despite their comparable population size and development levels? Why do Americans not bother to vote, and yet in Cuba the voter turnout is 100 percent? Why is “universal health care” a political anathema in the U.S., but taken for granted in Sweden? Why are poor countries poor? Why is Asia rich? Is there a widening gap between the global “haves” and “have-nots”? Why in the U.S. the “separation of church and state” is a well-accepted political principle, but in Iran the government is guided by the religious teachings of the Koran? Why have many countries made their democratic transitions since the mid-1970s? And what are the implications of this global wave of democratization? Questions such as these are important for academic reasons – for understanding the many different ways peoples around the world organize themselves politically to deal with collective political problems – that is, governance. They are also of normative values in guiding us toward better governance. As a survey for the broad field of Comparative Politics – a subfield of Political Science, this course equips students with the necessary conceptual and analytical tools to systematically understand and compare the main political institutional and behavioral patterns across various societies. In meeting Field of Study Social Analysis (FSSA) requirement, this course introduces the students to the “science” of politics with a systematic theoretical and empirical examination of the patterns of human political behavior and institutions both within and across nation-states. The main objective of this course is to help students acquire the analytical tools needed to study politics cross-nationally. To accomplish this goal, this course teaches the core concepts, approaches, frameworks and models used in comparative political research. In addition, to strengthen the empirical orientation of this course, students will use cross-national and survey data to empirically test hypotheses on patterns of human political behavior. Reading Materials 1. Textbooks: The following books are required, and available at the Bookstore. Rod Hague and Martin Harrop, Political Science: A Comparative Introduction, 4th ed. (Palgrave, 2004) Michael K. LeRoy, Comparative Politics: Using MicroCase ExplorIt, 3rd ed. (Wadsworth, 2005) Samuel P. Huntington, The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century (University of Oklahoma Press, 1991)

2. Articles: All other materials will be made available on Library e-reserve or as handouts. 3. Periodicals: To become informed on current world events, you are strongly encouraged to subscribe to and read regularly at least one good daily (e.g., New York Times) or one good weekly (e.g., The Economist). The Bookstore offers a special educational discount on the NYT. Grading and Course Requirements Final course grades are based on the following scale: A 100.0-93.0 B80.0-82.9 D+ 67.0-69.9 A- 90.0-92.9 C+ 77.0-79.9 D 63.0-66.9 B+ 87.0-89.9 C 73.0-76.9 D60.0-62.9 B 83.0-86.9 C70.0-72.9 F 59.0-0.0 Grades in the “A” range are for truly excellent work, “B” grades are for good or very good work, “C” grades are for average work, “D” grades are for below average work, and "F" for failure or no credit. Final grades are computed by the following formula. Please note: while a grade is provided for each specific assignment, when applicable (e.g., a paper), to give you a sense of how well you did, projecting any single grade (or several grades) to the final course grade is unwarranted, because the final course grade takes into grades on all assignments and other additional factors, such as your relative standing in the class and your improvement (or retreat) over the semester. I do not grade on a curve. Each student earns his or her own grade. 1. Attendance and Participation (15%): You should complete all readings assigned for a specific day before that class. You are expected to attend classes and be responsible for all the work that takes place inside and outside classes. Please note: the task on hand requires that you spend 3 hours outside the classroom for each class hour. The attendance grade (10%) is calculated as follows: Ten times randomly throughout the semester a roll will be taken. You will earn ½ point each time you are present when the roll is taken. The participation grade (5%) is based on the quality, quantity, substance, and relevance of your contributions in the class, as well as the courtesy and professionalism you show to the other students and the instructor. This can work to your advantage in the case of a border grade. 2. ExporIt Exercises (20%): Your individual copy of LeRoy, Comparative Politics contains a passcode for downloading MicroCase ExplorIt. Install ExplorIt on your computer and register under your name, which will appear on all ExplorIt outputs. You should complete the exercises at the end of each chapter and turn them in (make a copy for yourself) according to the schedule established in the syllabus (see below). I will randomly select up to five sets of exercises to grade, but you must turn in all exercises – the other sets will be graded for completion. I will provide an answer key for each exercise. There may be occasions when you are instructed to complete the exercises in class. 3. Examinations (30%): Four in-class closed-book exams consist of multiple choice, identification, ExplorIt, and essay questions are intended to help retain crucial knowledge and train critical analysis. 4. Country Election Watch (10%): To increase the collective knowledge of this class, each student is assigned to do a presentation on a country that has held a recent election or has an upcoming election. This assignment consists of two parts: (1) an 8-10 minute oral presentation (feel free to use PowerPoint) and a (2) 2-page written summary. Your presentation and write-up should include the following information: the offices at stake (e.g., presidency, legislature, etc.), a brief account of this country’s electoral history (i.e., how frequently this country has held this election and when was the last time), the significance of this election, the main cleavages (e.g., economic, social, religious) that differentiate the major political parties, how Country Election Watch has increased your knowledge about the course or the subject in general and the country in particular, and your sources. Your writeup is due one week after your oral presentation. A roster will be distributed later.

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5. Papers (20%): This part consists of two 5-page papers on assigned essay topics and two 1-page response papers to videos / films shown in class. Papers will be evaluated by relevance, substance, clarity, brevity, and style. Read “How to Write a Good Paper in Political Science” (http://oncampus.richmond.edu/~vwang/Paperwriting.html) for suggestions. The Writing Center can edit your paper and offer other help. Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own without proper credit – is a form of academic dishonesty and is prohibited. 6. Cocurricular activities: During the course of the semester, several cocurricular activities relevant to the course, such as the anticipated visits of a former Chilean official and Chinese dissident, will be announced. Students are encouraged to attend. Extra credits may be awarded. Class Policies 1. Attendance and absences: Regular attendance is important to success in this class. Please note that the Dean’s office excuses only participation in University-sponsored events. Absences due to any other reasons (e.g., illness, family emergencies, court dates, etc.) must be first cleared with the instructor. Missing many classes will prompt a report to the Dean and impair your grades. Regardless of circumstances, you are responsible for all the work missed during absence. 2. Late works: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date specified in the syllabus. Any work turned in after that is considered late and is subject to one full grade deduction per day (e.g., from “A” to “B”), until 72 hours after due when the grade turns into an “F.” Note: “F” is calculated as half-credit, whereas not turning in the work at all is counted as zero-credit. The old adage: It’s better late than never. The policy on late works will be strictly enforced. 3. Make-ups: There is no make-up or incomplete except in those cases involving documented extraordinary circumstances beyond your control (e.g., you suddenly become very ill or hospitalized and cannot take the exam as scheduled). Any such requests must have instructor’s approval. 4. Honor code: This course adopts the University of Richmond Student Honor Code. Any type of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, is prohibited. You are required to provide and sign the honor pledge on all assignments: "I pledge that I have neither received nor given unauthorized assistance during the completion of this work." 5. Academic help: You are strongly encouraged to talk with me, or the experts at the Writing Center, Speech Center, and Academic Skills Center, if you need help. This syllabus contains important information about the course. Retain it. We will basically adhere to the following schedule. However, the schedule is subject to change, as pedagogical needs may so require.

Date 8/28

Topic

CALENDAR AND READING ASSIGNMENTS Readings

9/4

Introduction to the course Foundational concepts The state in a global context Library resources on comparative politics Democracy

9/6

Authoritarian rule

8/30

9/1

Remarks

“Not quite a new world order, more a three-way split,” Economist (20 Dec 1997): 41-3 Hague and Harrop, ch. 1 Hague and Harrop, ch. 2 Guest Lecturer: Keith Weimer (see Library course site http://library.richmond.edu/information/csguides/plsc240.htm)

Hague and Harrop, ch. 3; Philippe C. Schmitter and Terry Lynn Karl, “What Democracy is…and is Not,” Journal of Democracy (summer 1991): 67-73 Hague and Harrop, ch. 4; Larry Diamond, “Elections Without Democracy: Thinking About Hybrid Regimes,” Journal of Democracy (April 2002): 21-35; Shanthi Kalathil, “Dot Com for dictators,” Foreign Policy (Mar-

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Boatwright Library B26

Apr 2003): 42-9 Read text of LeRoy, xi-xviii; ch. 1-3 LeRoy ch 2 and 3 exercises done in class “What Makes a Terrorist?” in Timothy C. Lim, Doing Comparative Politics (2006), 203-31; Bernard Lewis, “Islam and Liberal Democracy: A Historical Overview,” Journal of Democracy (April 1996): 52-63; Larry Diamond, “Building Democracy After Conflict: Lessons from Iraq,” Journal of Democracy (January 2005): 9-23 Hague and Harrop, ch. 6; Ronald Inglehart and Marita Carballo, “Does Latin America exist? (and is there a Confucian culture?) PS: Political Science & Politics 30 (1) (Mar 1997): 34-47 Hague and Harrop, ch. 5; David Collier, “The comparative method”

9/8

Classifying nation-states

9/11

September 11, Five Years On: Reflections on Terrorism, Islam, and Democracy

9/13

Political culture

9/15

The comparative approach

9/18

Political communication and public opinion

9/20 9/22

Civil society and political participation First Examination

9/25

Elections and voters

9/27

Interest groups

9/29

Political parties

Hague and Harrop, ch. 11; “Empty vessels?” The Economist (24 Jul 1999)

10/2

Constitutions and the legal framework Federalism, unitarism, and local government

Hague and Harrop, ch. 12; “Judicial review: The gravel and the robe,” The Economist (7 Aug 1999) Hague and Harrop, ch. 13; Marc F. Plattner, “Globalization and Self-Government,” Journal of Democracy (July 2002): 54-67 Michael McFaul, “Transitions from Postcommunism,” Journal of Democracy (July 2005): 5-19; LeRoy chs 8-9

10/4

JPSN G21 Paper 1 assigned: due 9/20

JPSN G21 LeRoy ch 4 exercises due

Hague and Harrop, ch. 7; “Public Opinion: Is there a crisis?” The Economist (17 July 1999): 51-2; Shanthi Kalathil, “Dot Com for dictators” Hague and Harrop, ch. 8; Robert D. Putnam, “Bowling alone” JPSN G21 LeRoy ch 5 exercises due Hague and Harrop, ch. 9; “Referendums: The people’s voice,” The Economist (14 Aug 1999) Hague and Harrop, ch. 10; “Interest Groups: Ex Uno, Plures,” The Economist (21 August 1999); Philippe Schmitter, “Still the century of corporatism?”

10/6

Post-communist transitions

10/9

Assemblies

10/11

The political executive

Hague and Harrop, ch. 14; Christopher Allen, “The case for a multi-party U.S. parliament?” Hague and Harrop, ch. 15

10/13

The bureaucracy

Hague and Harrop, ch 16

10/16 10/18 10/20 10/23

FALL BREAK The policy process Second Examination Development and underdevelopment

No class Hague and Harrop, ch 17

LeRoy ch 6 exercises due

JPSN G21 LeRoy ch 7 exercises due

JPSN G21 LeRoy chs 8-9 exercises due

JPSN G21 LeRoy ch 10 exercises due

JPSN G21 Watch Sixteen Decisions (1-page response paper assigned)

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10/25 10/27

10/30 11/1 11/3

11/6 11/8 11/10 11/13

Defining Third-wave democratization Measuring democracy

Huntington, ch 1

Explaining the Thirdwave Trajectories of democratization Newly industrialized countries

Huntington, ch 2

Characteristics of Thirdwave democratization Unsettled issues of democratization Prospects of Third-wave democratization Politics in Africa

Huntington, ch 4

11/15 11/17

Politics in Europe Politics in the Muslim World

11/20 11/22 11/24 11/27

Third Examination THANKSGIVING BREAK Evaluating the Third Wave

11/29

Development and democracy: Regime types and economic performance

12/1

Dilemmas of development Toward democratic consolidation?

12/4

12/6

Institutional choices for new democracies

12/8

Toward “quality democracy”?

12/18

Final Examination

Freedom House annual surveys, Freedom in the World (http://www.freedomhouse.org/)

JPSN G21 Project due in class Paper 2 assigned: Due 11/13

Huntington, ch 3 LeRoy ch 11-12

JPSN G21 LeRoy ch 11-12 exercises due

Huntington, ch 5 Huntington, ch 6

JPSN G21

Guest Lecturer: Dr. Carol Summers Watch Darwin’s Nightmare Guest Lecturer: Dr. Josip Dasovic Guest Lecturer: Dr. Sheila Carapico LeRoy ch 15-16

LeRoy ch 13-14 exercises due JPSN G21 LeRoy ch 15-16 exercises due

No Classes

Samuel P. Huntington, “Democracy for the long haul,” Journal of Democracy 7(2)(1996): 3-13; “After 20 years: The future of the Third Wave,” Journal of Democracy 8(4)(1997); 3-12 Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and George Downs, “Development and Democracy,” Foreign Affairs 84(5)(Sep/Oct 2005):77-86; Robert J. Barro, “Democracy: A recipe for growth?”; Adam Przeworski et al., “Political regimes and economic growth” Watch Capital Sin (1-page response paper assigned)

JPSN G21

Larry Diamond, In search of consolidation; Adam Przeworski et al., What makes democracies endure? Arendt Lijphart, “Constitutional choices for new democracies;” “Presidential vs. parliamentary democracy: A debate” “Introduction,” in Larry Diamond and Leonardo Morlino eds., Assessing the Quality of Democracy (Johns Hopkins 2005), ix-xliii

JPSN G21

9:00-12:00 am

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