11/21/2024 3:10:25 AM	POLS 2 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  POLS 2	Title:  INTRO/COMPAR GOVT
Full Title:  Introduction to Comparative Government
Last Reviewed:4/8/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

Students will be introduced to the processes and challenges that all political systems face, with an emphasis on consolidated democracies, transitional regimes, and authoritarian regimes.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will be introduced to the processes and challenges that all political systems face, with an emphasis on consolidated democracies, transitional regimes, and authoritarian regimes.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	D	Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 2012
	D8	Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns
	D	Social Science		Fall 1991	Summer 2012
	D2	Economics
	D4	Gender Studies
	D8	Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns
	D	Social Science		Fall 1981	Summer 1991
	D2	Economics
	D4	Gender Studies
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1981
	4H	Political Science:Govt and Legal Instutn
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: POLS 130	Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): POLS2

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Describe the historical, political, economic, and cultural development of democratic and authoritarian regimes.

2.  Analyze and evaluate institutional alternatives to explain differences in processes and policy outcomes of different states.

3.  Evaluate the impact of domestic issues and globalization on individual states.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Define key terms and concepts used in comparative politics.

2. Identify similarities and differences between and among states, as well as political institutions, processes, and policies.

3. Compare and contrast the patterns of political and economic development of consolidated democracies, transitional democracies, and authoritarian states.

4. Analyze how identity, political socialization and political participation, impact political culture.

5. Describe how individual countries deal with domestic policy challenges and the impact of globalization by comparing their public policy approaches and outcomes.

Topics and Scope

I. Comparative Politics

    A. Comparison of States

    B. Comparison of Political Regimes

    C. Comparison of Political Culture and Participation

    D. Comparison of Political Economies

    E. Comparison of Public Policy Issues and Challenges

    F. Interplay of National, Regional, and Global Forces

II. Consolidated Democracies

    A. Origins of the Democratic States

    B. Presidential, Parliamentary and Semi-Presidential Systems

    C. Political Culture and Participation

    D. Public Policy

         1. Domestic Trends and Challenges

         2. Regional and Globalization Forces and Challenges

    E. Selected Countries - Case Studies on countries determined by the instructor.          

          1. Historical Development of the State

         2. Political Institutions

         3. Political Culture and Participation

              a. Party System and Elections

              b. Ideology

              c. Identity (class, ethnic, national)

          4. Political Economy

          5. Public Policy

              a. Domestic Policy Issues

              b. Regional and Globalization Forces and Impact

III. Authoritarian Regimes

    A. Origins of Authoritarianism

    B. The Institutional Bases of Authoritarianism

    C. Varieties of Authoritarianism

    D. Economics and Authoritarian States

    E. Selected Countries - Case Studies countries determined by the instructor.  

          1. Historical Development of the State

         2. Political Institutions

         3. Political Culture and Participation

              a. Party system and elections

              b. Ideology

              c. Identity

         4. Political Economy

         5. Public Policy

              a. Domestic Trends and Challenges

              b. Regional and Globalization Forces and Impact

IV. Transitional Regimes

    A. Evolution of Politics in the Developing States

         1. Imperialism and its Legacy

         2. Postcolonial Political Regimes

    B. Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment

    C. Political Culture and Participation

    D. Public Policy

    E. Selected Countries - Case Studies countries determined by the instructor.  

          1. Historical Development of the State

         2. Political Institutions

         3. Political Culture and Participation

              a. Party System and Elections

              b. Ideology

              c. Identity

         4. Political Economy

         5. Public Policy

              a. Domestic trends and challenges

              b. Regional and Globalization Forces and Impact

Assignments:

1. Read and study 30 to 50 pages in the text and additional readings weekly.

2. Essay examinations including a final (2-4).

3. Analytical writing (1,500-2,500 total words). These may be in the form of:

   A. Research papers

   B. Reaction papers

   C. Discussion posts

4. Optional assignments may include

   A. Written summaries of current events

   B. Quizzes

   C. Presentations

   D. Simulations

   E. Group work

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 25 - 45%
Analytical writing
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Essay examinations, Final, Optional quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 30%
Optional assignments

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Essentials of Comparative Politics. O'Neill, Patrick. W.W. Norton & Company. 2020

Cases and Concepts in Comparative Politics. O'Neill, Patrick and Fields, Karl and Share, Don. W.W. Norton & Company. 2023

Principles of Comparative Politics. 4th ed. Clark, William Roberts, Golder, Matt, and Golder, Sona N. CQ Press. 2024

Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases. 4th ed. Dickovick, Tyler, Eastwood, Jonathan, LeBlanc, Robin M., and Ponce de Leon, Zoila. Oxford University Press. 2022

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