Comparative Politics (College of Alameda) Spring 2012
REMINDER: Sign up for reuters.com updates. It will be your
responsibility to keep up to date on international politics for this course.
PRE-TEST CAN BE FOUND HERE! Electoral College Video
FINAL PAPER - SPRING 2012
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This introduction course is a narrative-contextual world systems approach to the study and comparative analysis of political leadership, citizenship & participation, centers of power, and political problems of selected governments in the “modern world system”.
Comparative Political Systems examines theories of the state and methods of comparing political systems across time and space. Spatial comparisons (typically called comparative government or geopolitical systems) examine the similarities and differences in social and political institutions between different countries. I will include comparisons in historical systems and an examination of the process of political change.
Relative to changes in the social and political system, of necessity we shall consider the issues of
a) traditionalism and nationalism (conservativism),
b) property rights and free trade orientations (liberalism), and
c) issues of human rights – social, environmental, and inter-generational justice issues (radicalism)
d) globalization, and
e) introduce and explore an indigenous rights perspective to state and nation making.
This is an interdisciplinary approach utilizing many perspectives in a holistic analysis – including humanist cognitive behavioral theory, post-modern constructivism, and narrative systems in exploration of political evolution from three systemic levels (micro – psychological, macro – socio-political, and grande systems – worlds systems). This will allow us to understand questions that go to the core of the political and social organization of our world and each of our own place within this context. My hope is to also stretch our imagination in understanding the role of the U.S. as a creative force for change (positive and negative) around the world.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Comparative politics examines many facets of political life in states. Among other things it studies political institutions, political culture, different economic systems, and economic and political development. It also examines how international relations affects states. Through comparing similarities and differences among states we can gain a greater understanding of how politics works. This section contains numerous activities that explore the various aspects of comparative politics.
PRE-TEST CAN BE FOUND HERE! Electoral College Video
FINAL PAPER - SPRING 2012
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This introduction course is a narrative-contextual world systems approach to the study and comparative analysis of political leadership, citizenship & participation, centers of power, and political problems of selected governments in the “modern world system”.
Comparative Political Systems examines theories of the state and methods of comparing political systems across time and space. Spatial comparisons (typically called comparative government or geopolitical systems) examine the similarities and differences in social and political institutions between different countries. I will include comparisons in historical systems and an examination of the process of political change.
Relative to changes in the social and political system, of necessity we shall consider the issues of
a) traditionalism and nationalism (conservativism),
b) property rights and free trade orientations (liberalism), and
c) issues of human rights – social, environmental, and inter-generational justice issues (radicalism)
d) globalization, and
e) introduce and explore an indigenous rights perspective to state and nation making.
This is an interdisciplinary approach utilizing many perspectives in a holistic analysis – including humanist cognitive behavioral theory, post-modern constructivism, and narrative systems in exploration of political evolution from three systemic levels (micro – psychological, macro – socio-political, and grande systems – worlds systems). This will allow us to understand questions that go to the core of the political and social organization of our world and each of our own place within this context. My hope is to also stretch our imagination in understanding the role of the U.S. as a creative force for change (positive and negative) around the world.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Comparative politics examines many facets of political life in states. Among other things it studies political institutions, political culture, different economic systems, and economic and political development. It also examines how international relations affects states. Through comparing similarities and differences among states we can gain a greater understanding of how politics works. This section contains numerous activities that explore the various aspects of comparative politics.
ASSIGNMENTS
In-class Assignments (3)– Student teach-in, Arundhati Roy Assignment, World Map (100)
Short Essays – (3) 50 points each (150) Short Essay #1 Short Essay #2 Short Essay #3
Independent Research Portfolio (1) – 100 points
Final Paper: Analytical Essay on International Political Relationships (1) – 100 pts (in-class final)
Attendance (10 points/week) – 160 points
TOTAL: 610 points 90% 549 80% 488 70% 427 60% 366
Short Essays – (3) 50 points each (150) Short Essay #1 Short Essay #2 Short Essay #3
Independent Research Portfolio (1) – 100 points
Final Paper: Analytical Essay on International Political Relationships (1) – 100 pts (in-class final)
Attendance (10 points/week) – 160 points
TOTAL: 610 points 90% 549 80% 488 70% 427 60% 366
WEEK 1 (Jan 24, 26)
Tuesday – Introduction, Overview of Assignments, What is Comparative Politics?
Finish Pre-test before class next Tuesday!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sp12comparative
Thursday – Geography and World Politics: Understanding the impact of nation states. How do politics impact the world?
World Map Exercise
Handouts
WEEK 2 (Jan 31, Feb 2)
Tuesday – What are Social Sciences & Critical Pedagogy?
Thursday – Systems of Governing, World Map Exercise (In-class assignment)
Watch Century of Self Part 1 & 2 before class today. (search on youtube)
Bring 3 questions to class for small group discussions. (Tues)
Reading:
Choose about three countries and review their constitutions.
Reading: Good Societies (Ch 1)
WEEK 3 (Feb 7, 9)
Tuesday – Watch Century of Self Part 1 & 2 before class today. In-class assignment
Bring 3 questions to class for small group discussions
Thursday – Systems of Governing
For each class session watch at least two speeches from the 2011 WTO Ministerial Conference that took place in Dec. 2011
http://gaia.world-television.com/wto/2011/min11_webcast_e.htm
Reading: The history of the WTO
Political Institutions and the Good Society (Ch 2)
WEEK 4 (Feb 14, 16)
Tuesday – International Powers Section I: Globalization, Consumption & the Self & the WTO
Thursday – WTO
Short Essay Due (Thursday) (Analytical Essay on Personal Results from www.slaveryfootprint.org)
Reading:
Review the UN website
Read about the UN Structure and Organization
States, Markets, and the Good Society, (Ch 3)
WEEK 5 (Feb 21, 23)
Tuesday – United Nations
Thursday – United Nations
Reading: Rich Democracies, (Ch 4)
Handouts
WEEK 6 (Feb 28, March 1)
Tuesday – International Powers Section II: Wars
Thursday – Wars
Watch War on Democracy before class.
Bring 3 questions to class for small group discussions. (Tues)
Reading:
US Military Interventions – Handout
WEEK 7 (March 6, 8)
Tuesday – Lecture on U.S. Military Interventions in the late 20th century, In-class assignment
Thursday – U.S. Military Interventions in the 21st Century - handout
Reading:
Regimes in Rich Democracies (Ch 5)
WEEK 8 (March 13, 15)
Tuesday – Student Teach In, Peer Review
Thursday – Student Teach In, Peer Review
Reading: Case Studies (Ch 9)
WEEK 9 (March 20, 22)
Tuesday – Student Teach In, Peer Review
Thursday – North and South Korea
Short Essay due (Thursday) on effective acts of protest within international political realms. Example: “The War on Democracy”
Reading:
Case Studies (Ch 6)
WEEK 10 (March 27, 29)
Tuesday – International Powers Section II: Social Movements and other Political Efforts
Thursday -Social Movements and other Political Efforts
WEEK 11 (April 3, 5)
SPRING BREAK
Reading:
Less Developed Countries (Ch 7)
WEEK 12 (April 10, 12)
Tuesday – India: Maoist Revolution
Thursday – Arundhati Roy: Interview with Fault Lines (Aljazeera English)
WEEK 13 (April 17, 19)
Tuesday – The Iraq War
Thursday – Guantanamo Bay
Short Essay due (Thursday) Self Reflective Essay
Reading:
The Color of the Cat (Conclusion)
WEEK 14 (April 24, 26)
Tuesday – The Bolivarian Revolution
Thursday –The Battle over Natural Resources (Food, water, oil, etc)
Independent Research Portfolio Due (Thursday)
Reading:
Russia & China (Ch 10)
WEEK 15 (May 1, 3)
Tuesday – In-class assignment (TBD)
Thursday – Pick your president!
FINAL PAPER DUE: STUDENTS CHOOSE TOPICS! (See assignment sheet for details)
WEEK 16 (May 8, 10)
TURN IN YOUR FINAL PAPER IN CLASS.
OTHER COURSE MATERIALS
Main Text: Alan Draper, Ansil Ramsay (2011). Title:Good Society, The: An Introduction to Comparative Politics, Longman
U.S. Military Intervention
Slavery Footprint Research Project
U.S. Military Intervention
Slavery Footprint Research Project
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At the end of the course, each student should:
· Understand the major schools of thought used in comparing political systems including structural functionalism, political-economy approaches, social choice theory, and political culture........ all in the context of a narrative contextual world systems approach; · Understand the differences and similarities and connections between political systems of government and governance and economic systems; · Understand the nature of social systems or “social orders” (i.e. democracy, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism) and various political ideologies associated with these · Be able to apply methods for comparing political systems to explain political and social phenomena in today's world with an eye towards understanding how the future of the worlds system is unfolding and how we are involved in this process. |
The “outcomes” of what you learn in this course
should allow you to be able to:
· Demonstrate a degree of mastery and overall working knowledge of the historical background and evolution of the principles of government and governance in various systems and their institutions in the modern world system today. · Demonstrate a degree of proficiency in being able to use political thinking, analysis (theory and philosophy), and “futures consciousness” – ability to apply and practice these discipline skills, in the process of learning about the emergent orders of government(s) in the modern worlds system as well of the system as whole. · Demonstrate a degree of capacity to assume responsibility as a citizen in a 21st Century knowledge economy in the context of global environmental challenges and the ability to apply the principles of democratic philosophy in their own contexts socio-political and personal. |
OTHER LINKS
Other links
The politics of states by wiki -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_present-day_nations_and_states
United Nations -- http://www.un.org
http://www.un.org/en/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/structure/index.shtml
Security Council -- http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_background.html
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html
http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_structure.html
General Assembly -- http://www.un.org/ga/
http://www.un.org/ga/about/background.shtml
United Nations Development Program -- http://hdr.undp.org
Political Resources on the Net -- http://www.politicalresources.net
Elections Around the World -- http://www.electionworld.org
Inter-Parliamentary Union -- http://www.ipu.org
Library of Congress -- http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs
British Broadcasting Company -- http://news.bbc.co.uk
CIA Factbook -- http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
European Union -- http://europa.eu.int
World Bank -- http://www.worldbank.com
Materials we viewed in class recently:
Obama's Nobel acceptance speech -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uU_mCNcKM
Amy Goodman's interview with Allan Nairn on Obama's foreign policy -- http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/6/obama_has_kept_the_machine_set
Real News Network three-part series on U.S. foreign policy under Obama -- http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&;task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=518
The politics of states by wiki -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_present-day_nations_and_states
United Nations -- http://www.un.org
http://www.un.org/en/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/structure/index.shtml
Security Council -- http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_background.html
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html
http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_structure.html
General Assembly -- http://www.un.org/ga/
http://www.un.org/ga/about/background.shtml
United Nations Development Program -- http://hdr.undp.org
Political Resources on the Net -- http://www.politicalresources.net
Elections Around the World -- http://www.electionworld.org
Inter-Parliamentary Union -- http://www.ipu.org
Library of Congress -- http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs
British Broadcasting Company -- http://news.bbc.co.uk
CIA Factbook -- http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
European Union -- http://europa.eu.int
World Bank -- http://www.worldbank.com
Materials we viewed in class recently:
Obama's Nobel acceptance speech -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uU_mCNcKM
Amy Goodman's interview with Allan Nairn on Obama's foreign policy -- http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/6/obama_has_kept_the_machine_set
Real News Network three-part series on U.S. foreign policy under Obama -- http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&;task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=518