This one-year course introduces the field of political science through a survey of the major issues and questions of politics from a comparative perspective. The first semester will be devoted to understanding how and why countries become democracies and when democracies remain stable forms of government. After an introduction to essential issues within political science (such as what is politics, what is the comparative approach, what is the state, what are the fundamental differences between authoritarian and democratic governments), we will investigate questions about how modern democracies function. Is economic development critical to stable democracy? Does a population need particular cultural characteristics for its government to function democratically? What are the effects of regime type on economic growth and government performance? How important are political parties to democracy? The goal of these themes is for students to develop analytic tools for understanding various political systems and evaluating the proper nature of our society. In the second semester, we will explore a choice of topics, such as human rights, political ideologies, secularisms, social movements and contentious politics, economic inequality and welfare states, nationalism and national identity, etc. Parallel goals of this semester include developing research and writing skills. Together, these objectives help form the foundation for future coursework in the discipline and should help students make informed judgments about the political world around them.

The course objective is to introduce first-year political science students to major issues and theories in the study of politics. By the end of the course, students should possess: (1) A general understanding of the major issues and theories of political science; (2) A descriptive knowledge of select topics; (3) A grasp of key theoretical concepts in the study of politics; (4) A critical understanding of contemporary political challenges.

The course grade will be based on two exams (60%), weekly reading comments and questions (20%), and discussion section participation (20%). Exams. The two in-class exams are open-book exams. You may consult lecture notes and course readings. You may choose either English or Chinese to write the exam. The use of electronic devices is not permitted. The final exam is cumulative. The midterm will be on April 24, and the final will be held on June 12. Reading comments and questions. You are expected to form a study group of 4-5 students and sign up on NTU COOL by March 8. Beginning in the third week, each group is responsible for posting comments and questions, either in English or Chinese, on one of the weekly assigned readings through the discussion section on NTU COOL. The deadline is 17:00 on Thursday. Please limit your postings to six lines of text. You should address at least one following in your comments: (1) What is the author’s research question, and why is it important? (2) What is the author’s argument? (3) Is the argument convincing and why? (4) Does the evidence provided by the author support the argument and why? Your questions can be specific to the reading (e.g., theories, methods, and evidence) or about a broader issue related to the reading. You will be assigned a group if you have not signed up for one by March 8. Discussion sections. Discussion sections begin in the third week of class. The teaching fellows will conduct the discussion both in English and Mandarin. The weekly discussion sections offer an opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics covered in lectures and the assigned readings. We will structure the meeting according to the questions posted on NTU COOL the day before. Each group is expected to have read other groups’ postings and actively participate in the discussion. This course involves participation in discussions. We will have many opportunities to explore some challenging issues. You may feel uncomfortable or disagree with specific ideas or opinions expressed by others. You may also find that you share perspectives or experiences with others. Always, we need respect for others. This course embraces the idea of an intellectual community enhanced by diversity. Thus, an additional goal of our course will be to increase our aptitude for the sometimes difficult conversations that arise as we deepen our understanding of multiple perspectives. I intend students from all backgrounds and positions to be well respected in this course. This course prohibits discrimination, including harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, ethnic origin, age, race, and religion. If something was said or done in class that made you uncomfortable, please talk to me about it. We will also help you obtain relevant resources and assistance from the university.

This course assigns approximately two to three book chapters or journal articles each week. To ensure a solid understanding of the course materials and meaningful participation in class discussions, students are expected to devote approximately 4–6 hours per week to pre-class preparation. Actual time requirements may vary depending on students’ reading pace and academic background.