The aim of this course is to introduce the fundamental concepts and research directions of comparative government and politics, and to employ these methods and concepts to examine the political structure of various governments. To do so, we begin by examining some of the literature on concepts: What is comparative politics? The course then proceeds to explore research methods of comparative politics to build students’ basic abilities to engage in comparative political research. Subsequently, the course examines diverse political systems and structures, including unitary and federal systems, democracies and autocracies, constitutional design, electoral systems, and party systems from a cross-national perspective. The course in the upcoming semester will examine the impact of institutions on the operation of constitutional organs (governments and parliaments) and their interrelationship, specifically the triangular relationship between the president, the prime minister and the government, and the parliament. Finally, the course examines how institutions affect diverse outcomes, including but not limited to government survival, political trust, economic development, welfare and health, political conflict, and regime transitions. This course will not introduce the governments of individual countries, but will incorporate these cases into various topics for comparison.

In this course you will:  acquire a strong understanding of basic research methods of comparative politics.  become familiar with political institutions from a cross-national perspective.  learn about how institutions impact the operation of constitutional organs and the relationship between them.  learn about how institutions impact political and economic outcomes.  apply the required knowledge to practical research.

 Assignments (30%): each assignment is worth 15%  In-class mid-term exam (20%): There will be an in-class mid-term exam that contains topics before W8  The group term paper (20-25 pages, 50%): you will propose original research on a topic related to comparative politics. It should contain all the elements of a journal-quality academic article: What is your research question? What is missing in the given literature? How do you develop a theoretical argument to help answer the research question? What is your research design? How do you identify the dependent variable and independent variables? What will the empirical implications of your findings be?

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This course does not follow a textbook approach. Students are cordially invited to purchase a comparative politics textbook if they so desire.

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