PSC 302: Comparative Government

Syllabus

revised 20 Aug. 2008 with new HC attendance and special needs notices, learning objectives, and previously with book changes, by Jeremy Lewis.

PURPOSE:

Catalog description:
302. Comparative Government. Sem. 1; Cl. 3; Cr. 3.
Comparison of institutions and processes of major liberal democracies, particularly in Western Europe. Development of European Union and political concepts in social democracies. Other types of government such as utopian, authoritarian and totalitarian. Comparison and contrast with processes, institutions and values in the United States.
200 level course recommended.

In this course you will engage in a broader global comparison of government in different types of regime around the world. Then you will explore more carefully those advanced industrial political systems most comparable to the US: West European politics, public policy and institutions. you will find in Steiner's book topical and comparative analysis of West European governments generally, with (in Hauss's text and our lectures) case studies of British, French, Italian, Swedish and German government which present interesting contrasts with American politics. You will learn through texts and video documentaries about the development of the European Union, perhaps spotting some similarities with dilemmas the American Founders faced two centuries ago. You must expect to discuss current international affairs, such as a European crisis, even where this postpones part of the syllabus.

Thus you will experience the modern comparative, topical and supranational approaches with the traditional country-by-country method. You should by the end of the course understand Western European social democratic states; and how the European system is constantly changing over time. You will have an introductory understanding of the context of the many developing countries, whose problems of development are often more challenging than those found in the advanced industrial states.

The style of the course will be a reading-based seminar with students contributing essays, presentations and a research paper. Equipment and time permitting, we shall also explore western European sources on the World Wide Web.

Learning Objectives:

A brief introduction to types of government and the nature of comparison
Understanding of the differences between presidential and parliamentary systems
Knowledge of the major West European liberal and social democracies
Understanding of types of parties, campaigns and elections
Competence in the principles that guide West European policymaking
Knowledge of some classic political theories from West Europe
Critical thinking about current challenges in West European politics and policy
Critical comparison of West European systems and the US governmental system

Expected Outcomes:

Competent exam essays on types of government
Competent exam essays on the major West European political and governmental systems
Competent exam essays on formal and informal West European institutions
Competent exam essays on the historical and current challenges in West European institutions
Competent exam essays on the great political theories of West Europe
Critical discussion of the historical and contemporary challenges in West European politics and government
A competent research paper or set essay (judged by content, research, organization & writing)

BOOKS:

1. Steiner, Jurg. 1998. European Democracies, Fourth Edition. New York: Addison-Wesley Longman. (Entire.) Steiner gives a lively explanation of the contrasts in political values and practice found in Europe, and compares them with those found in the USA.
2. Hauss, Charles. 2009. Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges. A well-written, incisive country-by-country analysis of types of regime, and selections on major developed nations and the European Union. Other chapters will be used in PSC 371A.
3. Selected chapters from our companion anthologies:
Curtis, Michael (ed) The Great Political Theories, vols I and II (the Political Science companion reader, useful in all PSC classes.)
4. Current Affairs: order US News at a fine discount for the class. This will provide ammunition for you in answering questions about current affairs that occur during the term. For the magazines you supply me a mailing address to which the magazine will bill you directly.

5. Material on types of global government may be placed in a ring binder on library Reserve, examples:

Castle, Francis G. and Diane Sainsbury. 1990. "Scandinavia: The Politics of Stability", Part VI of Roy C. Macridis, ed. Modern Political Systems: Europe. Seventh Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Economist Newspaper, selected topical surveys and briefings.

Magstadt, Thomas M. "Comparative Politics & Regional Perspective", chapter 1 from his Nations and Governments: Comparative Politics in a Regional Perspective. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Magstadt, Thomas M and Peter M. Schotten. "Utopias: Model States"; "Totalitarian States: Failed Utopias"; and "Authoritarian States: Traditional Rule"; chapters 2-4 from their Understanding Politics. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Wiarda, Howard J. 1993. "What is Comparative Politics?" An introduction to his classic book.

Recommended, online:

You should perhaps watch the BBC World News (currently weeknights on PBS at 2330 - midnight), and the House of Commons Question Time on C-SPAN Sunday evenings. You should also surf into Europe on the World Wide Web (see my help sheet or my college webpage).

Formerly used texts (also recommended):

Hancock, M. Donald (ed). 1998. Politics in Western Europe. Second Edition. NY: Chatham House. (Entire.) Hancock is lively, inexpensive and up to date; it provides country-by-country analysis in a standard format, emphasizing themes rather than dry factual material. Not as analytical as Wilson, but with broader coverage.
Wiarda, Howard J. 1993. Introduction to Comparative Politics: Concepts and Processes. Belmont CA: Wadsworth. Excellent upper-level introduction to the issues and techniques of comparison.
Wilson, Frank L. 1999. European Politics Today: The Democratic Experience. 3/e.

Behavior: you are expected to comply with the HC Honor Code and with specific rules placed on our Requirements page above.

HC Attendance Policy:

"All students are required to attend, at a minimum, 75% of the meetings of every class in which they are enrolled. Individual faculty may set more stringent attendance policies. Failure to meet minimum attendance requirements will result in a failing grade.
Students are expected to arrive for class on time.
Students are expected to provide adequate notification of expected absences, and to make up missed work or examinations according to the faculty member’s criteria."

Accommodation of Special Needs, HC notice, from August 2008:

"Faculty at Huntingdon College make every effort to accommodate unique and special needs of students with respect to speech, hearing, vision, seating, or other possible adaptions. Please notify the Disability Services Intake Coordinator, Ms. Camilla Irvin, as soon as possible of requested accommodations."