PSC 302: Comparative Government, Syllabus

revised 19 Aug. 2012 with slight changes to policies, 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. Crepaz, Markus, and Jurg Steiner, Jurg. 2008. European Democracies, New York: Longman, Pearson. (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. Selected chapters; other chapters will be used in PSC 309.
3. Curtis, Michael (ed) The Great Political Theories, vol. II (Selected chapters from the political science companion reader, useful in most PSC classes).
4. Material on current affairs or types of global government may be placed in an electronic dropbox or physical library reserve.

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

HC's attendance policy

Students are expected to attend all classes.

My Specific Attendance Policy

While school sanctioned excuses will not count against you, absences reduce your potential contribution to class, and absences in excess of four contact hours will reduce your class participation score.

HC's Policy on completion of absence related work

A specific policy for completion of absence related work is up to the individual instructor. The instructor must state the policy in the course syllabus. The specific policy must not penalize a student for participation in a documented College sanctioned event or for a documented medical, personal or family emergency. [Also requires prior notification via a new online form, and verification by a coach, or similar]

My specific policy on completion of absence related work

Late completion of tests or other graded exercises in class will only be permitted in cases with documented, prior notification and documented excuses from a coach, medical doctor or similar authority.

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."