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Outcomes and Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Define key terms and concepts used in comparative politics.
2. Apply basic concepts of comparative politics to 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 industrialized democracies, post-communist states, and newly-industrialized developing states.
4. Examine how identity, political socialization and political participation impact political culture in both Western and non-Western states.
5. Examine how different countries deal with similar problems and challenges that impact our daily lives by comparing their public policy approaches and outcomes.
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1. What is 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
2. Industrialized Democracies
A. Origins of the Democratic States
B. Presidential and Parliamentary Systems
C. Political Culture and Participation
D. Public Policy
1. Domestic Trends and Challenges
2. Regional and Global Impact and Challenges
E. Selected Countries - Case Studies (may include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, etc.)
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 global forces and impact
3. Former and Current Communist States
A. The Institutional Bases of Communist States
B. Command Economies
C. Collapse of Communist Regimes
D. Post-communism
E. Selected Countries - Case Studies (Russia, China, etc).
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
4. Newly Industrialized and Developing States
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
1. Import Substitution
2. International Financial Institutions
3. Foreign Aid
4. Globalization Issues
E. Selected Countries - Case Studies (may include India, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, etc.)
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 policy issues
b. Regional and Global Forces and Impact
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Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges (8th). Hauss, Charles. Cengage: 2011
Essential Readings in Comparative Politics (3rd). O'Neil, Patrick & Rogowski, Ronald. Norton: 2010