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Comparative Politics (PSCI 1105)
Total Credits:
3
Lecture Credits:
3
Description:
This introductory course will consider governments, cultures, patterns of political and economic development, as well as political values, processes, and institutions in the context of unique cultures and histories. You will examine countries chosen to illustrate different types of governments as well as the diversity of government systems in the world, including comparisons, where apt, with the United States. You will learn how to make comparative study of different political systems with an emphasis on the frameworks used to compare them, and the concepts used to analyze and describe politics in different countries.
Topical Outline:
1. Types of governments and political systems
2. Alternative systems for classifying and understanding the world’s governments
3. Comparative governmental institutions
4. Comparative political organizations
5. Comparative political economies
6. Comparative political national/ethnic identity and voting behavior
Learning Outcomes:
1. Compare and contrast perspectives on comparative politics and methods political scientists use to study the governments of diverse countries.
2. Outline the ways political scientists classify the world’s political systems, institutions, and organizations.
3. Research and compare different types of governments.
4. Analyze how historical, cultural, economic, and political differences influence problems and issues faced by governments around the world.
5. Assess process/phenomena, problems and issues using the comparative method.
6. Reflect critically on one’s own national values, opinions, and experiences in contrast to those of people elsewhere and consider ways to participate in the roles and responsibilities of national citizens in a global context.
Prerequisites:
Placement into
READ 0200 or
ESOL 0052 or completion of
READ 0100 or
ESOL 0042
MnTC: