| Contact Information:
Curtis L. Frazier PGH 371 Office Hours: MW 4:30-5:30 & by appointment e-mail POLS2ET@uhupvm1.uh.edu homepage: http://www.uh.edu/~pols2et |
The goal of this course is to introduce the most important concepts in
comparative politics while simultaneously allowing students to pursue
specific area studies. We will focus primarily upon comparing diverse
political institutions.
BOOKS:
Dalton, Russell J., Citizen Politics in Western Democracies: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Western Democracies.
Lijphart, Arend, Democracies: Patterns of Majoritarian and
Consensus Governent in Twenty-One Countries.
GRADES & POLICIES:
There will be three cumulative examinations. Make-up examinations will be given ONLY with a medical excuse and prior notice. NO examinations will be given on the day of the examination after the first person has finished. In other words, do not arrive late. Each midterm exam counts toward 15% of your final grade. The final examination counts toward 20% of your final grade. The exams will test your knowledge and comprehension of material from the lectures and readings.
There will be two class papers. For each class paper, you will select a single country to study. The first paper will focus upon a non-democratic system. This paper will be primarily descriptive. The second paper will focus on a democratic system. This paper should be both informational and analytical. Papers are graded on content, style and grammar.
In addition, there will be a number of pop quizzes. The pop quizzes will count for 10% of your final grade. There will be no make-up pop quizzes given - for obvious reasons.
Class participation counts for 10% of your final grade. You will be called on in class - so be prepared. This course will be much more enjoyable (and informative) for both you and your instructor if you are prepared for class discussion. (Remember: a happy instructor is a nice instructor!)
Finally, you will be given a chance to substantially raise your final grade through reading and class preparation. Students who turn in (during class) a one to two page outline of the previous night's reading will be given extra credit. (Note: each reading is counted separately. For example, if there are two chapters, you may do two separate outlines) For each acceptable outline turned in on time, you will receive one point added to your subsequent examination grade. In other words, if you have a brain you will find a way to do these. Note: all outlines will be examined. Any found to be copied, plagiarized, or suspicious will not be counted. You may use any style for these outlines that you wish. However, the outlines must be complete, somewhat detailed and original work.
Cheating on assignments or tests will be dealt with harshly. Although
this course is designed to challenge students, it is not designed to
unreasonably difficult. If you have to cheat in this class you are in
serious trouble.
| Grading | |
| Participation | 10% |
| Pop Quizzes | 10% |
| Paper #1 | 10% |
| Paper #2 | 20% |
| Exam #1 | 15% |
| Exam #2 | 15% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| 100% | |
| Date | Topic | Reading | Notes |
| January 26th | COMPARATIVE STUDIES | Reserve (Dogan and Pelassy Ch. 1)
Reserve (Dogan and Pelassy(1) Ch. 5) |
|
| January 28th | REPRESENTATION | Dalton ch. 11 | |
| February 2nd | NON-DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS | Lijphart ch. 1
Lijphart ch. 2 |
Last day to drop and receive refund |
| February 4th | PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMS | Lijphart ch. 4 | Last day to request excused absense for religious holidays |
| February 9th | PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS | Lijphart ch. 5
Lijphart ch. 6 |
|
| February 11th | MIXED SYSTEMS | Reserve (Duverger article(2)) | |
| February 16th | COMPARISON (failure of presidentialism) | Reserve (Mainwaring article(3)) | Last day to drop without grade |
| February 18th | COMPARISON (defense of presidentialism) | Reserve (Horiwitz article(4))
Reserve (Lipset article(5) Reserve (Linz article(6)) |
|
| February 23rd | Review | catch-up | |
| February 25th | |||
| March 2nd | ELECTORAL SYSTEMS | Lijphart ch. 9 | |
| March 4th | ELECTORAL SYSTEMS | Reserve (Gallagher Laver & Mair, chapter 6(7)) | |
| March 9th | PARTIES | Reserve (Schlesinger article(8))
Reserve (Conway article(9)) Reserve (Budge article(10)) |
PAPER 1 |
| March 11th | PARTY SYSTEMS | Dalton ch. 7
Reserve (Blondel article(11)) Lijphart ch. 7 |
|
| March 16th | SPRING BREAK | ||
| March 18th | |||
| March 23rd | PARTY GOV'T | TBA | |
| March 25th | GOVERNMENT FORMATION | TBA | |
| March 30th | DISTRIBUTION OF MINISTRIES | TBA | |
| April 1st | INFLUENCES ON POLICY | Reserve (Gallagher Laver and Mair ch. 8(12)) | |
| April 6th | GOVERNMENT TERMINATION | TBA | |
| April 8th | |||
| April 15th | SOPHISTICATION | Dalton ch. 2;
Mueller debate |
|
| April 20th | PARTICIPATION (individual and aggregate) | Dalton ch. 3 & 4 | |
| April 22nd | VALUES | Dalton ch. 5, 6 | |
| April 27th | CLEAVAGES | Dalton ch. 8,9 | |
| April 29th | ATTITUDES | Dalton ch. 10 | |
| May 4th | Review | no readings | |
| May 11th | FINAL EXAMINATION | ||
I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus at any time during
the course of the semester. Obviously, students will be given ample notice
of any changes.
1. Dogan, Mattei and Dominique Pelassy, How to Compare Nations: Strategies in Comparative Politics, 2nd Edition. 1992. Chatham House.
2. Duverger, Maurice. (1980) "A New Political System Model: Semi-Presidential Government," European Journal of Political Research 8:165-187.
3. Mainwaring, Scott. (1993). "Presidentialism, Multipartism, and Democracy: The Difficult Combination," Comparative Political Studies 26:198-228.
4. Horowitz, Donald L. (1990) "Comparing Democratic Systems," Journal of Democracy 1/4:84-91.
5. Lipset, Seymour Martin (1990) "The Centrality of Political Culture," Journal of Democracy 1/4:84-91.
6. Linz, Juan J. "The Virtues of Parliamentarism," Journal of Democracy 1/4:84-91.
7. Gallagher, Michael, Michael Laver, and Peter Mair 1992. Representative Government in Western Europe. San Francisco, McGraw Hill. (Chapter 6)
8. Schlesinger, Joseph A. (1993) "Understanding Political Parties: Back to Basics," American Review of Politics 14:481-496.
9. Conway, M. Margaret (1993) "Political Parties and Political Mobilization," American Review of Politics, 14:549-563.
10. Budge, Ian, "Parties, Programs and Policies: A Comparative and Theoretical Perspective," American Review of Politics, 14:695-716.
11. Blondel, Jean, "Types of Party System," in Peter Mair, The West European Party System," 1990. Oxford University Press.
12. Gallagher, Michael, Michael Laver, and Peter Mair 1992. Representative Government in Western Europe. San Francisco, McGraw Hill. (Chapter 8)