Course grades will be based on a total of the following:
- Three exams. 15 points each, 45 points total. Each exam consists of two parts: 5 short-answer identification questions worth 2% each (choose 5 out of 8) and 1 short essay question worth 5% (choose 1 out of 2). Each exam is a "take-home" exam; students will have several days to complete it.
- Three short papers. 15 points each, 45 points total. The specific assignments will be posted online three weeks before each due date. Students turning in papers containing plagiarism will fail the course and be formally charged through the University’s Academic Integrity process. Papers must be submitted as Microsoft Word (.docx) files attached to an e-mail.
- Team country analysis report. 5 points. Teams, as assigned, will provide an oral presentation on the governmental structure of a particular country.
- Team country election report. 5 points. Teams, as assigned, will provide an oral presentation, followed by a Q&A, about a country that has had a recent election.
- Study group meeting. Each member of a group of at least three students that meets with me outside of class time will get 1 point of extra credit. Study group members will show me outlines of answers to at least 4 potential ID terms for the exam. This assignment may be repeated in advance of each exam.
- Class participation. Students who consistently contribute in a thoughtful and constructive way to class discussions may earn up to 3 points in extra credit.
- Outside event/video. Students who attend selected virtual events or selected videos outside of class and write a one-paragraph summary and reflection can get up to 2 points of extra credit. I will post events and videos and email them to the class as they come up.
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 is the last day to drop a course without academic record.
Friday, November 5, 2021 is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W.
REQUIRED TEXT
Samuels, David. 2021. Comparative Politics. Pearson Press. It is available as an ebook, linked through the course website and here.
Appointment Times: Times are listed on my calendar, linked here. You can reserve a time directly on my calendar to meet with me.
Readings should be completed before the class session under which they are listed. “Chapter” refers to a chapter in the assigned textbook. Additional short readings outside the textbook may be assigned periodically, and will be posted online and e-mailed.
Part 1: Democracy and Autocracy
August 31
Introduction, the insurrection, and models
September 3
Theory and evidence
Reading: Chapter 1 and The Democracy Doomsayers Consider 2020
September 7
Violence and Order
Reading: Chapter 2
Assign Paper #1
September 10
Democratic institutions
September 14
Parliamentary democracy
Reading: Chapter 3
September 17
Team Meetings - No class
September 21
Parties and Voting
Paper #1 due September 23
September 24
Autocracy
Reading: Chapter 4
September 27
Forms of Autocracy
October 1
Team Briefings - No class
October 5
Outside Speaker:
Rebecca Farmer, Iran Desk Officer, Department of State
October 8
Review session
October 12-15
First Exam - No class
Part 2: State and Society
October 19
Regime Change
Reading: Start Chapter 5
Assign Paper #2
October 22
Erosion of Democracy
Reading: Finish Chapter 5
October 26
Speaker: Erosion of Democracy
Adnan Mirza, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State
October 29
Identity and Race
Reading: Chapter 6
November 2
Religion and Gender
Reading: Chapters 7 and 8
November 5
Collective action and violence
Readings: Chapters 9 and 10
Paper #2 due November 8
October 9
Review Session
Assign Paper #3
November 12-16
Second Exam - No class
Part 3: Political Economy
November 19
Global poverty and development
Reading: Chapter 11
November 23
Redistribution and public investment
Reading: Chapter 12
November 26
No class; Thanksgiving holiday
November 30
Immigration
Reading: Chapter 13
Paper #3 due December 2
December 3
Team meetings
December 7
Team presentations and review
December 10
Team presentations and review
December 14-17
Third Exam - No class
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