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Political Science 120, Comparative Political Regimes |
Spring 2001 |
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Professor Norm Vig |
Office: Science Annex 116A |
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Phone: x-4120 |
Email: nvig@carleton.edu |
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Office Hours: 2:00-4:00 p.m. T, Th |
Purpose
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to political science by studying the basic nature of political regimes. What is the difference between democratic and authoritarian systems of government? What variations are there within each category? How do political systems change or "develop" over time? What are the problems in making transitions from authoritarian to democratic regimes? What social, economic or cultural conditions are necessary for stable democracy? The course will examine the following topics in detail: differences between European and American systems of constitutionalism and representative democracy; European integration; the development and breakdown of communist regimes; and the search for democracy in Russia and Nigeria.
Readings and Requirements
The following texts are available for purchase in the bookstore and should also be on closed reserve in the library:
Achebe, A MAN OF THE PEOPLE
Caporaso, THE EUROPEAN UNION
Kesselman, et al., INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS, 2 ed.
Soe, COMPARATIVE POLITICS 2000/01
Solzhenitsyn, ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVICH
Other assigned readings are also on closed reserve or handed out in class. The following are on reserve:
Eckstein & Apter, COMPARATIVE POLITICS: A READER
Vig & Stiefbold, POLITICS IN ADVANCED NATIONS
Students are expected to read assignments before class and may be called upon for discussion. There will be two short papers, a mid-term exam, and a two-hour final exam. The papers will count 30%, the mid-term 30%, the final exam 30%, and class participation 10% of the grade.
Assignments
I. INTRODUCTION: STUDYING COMPARATIVE POLITICS
A. Studying Comparative Politics
M Mar 26 Introductory meetingW Mar 28 Approaches to comparative politics - Kesselman, pp. 3-25
F Mar 30 Democracy as a Concept - Soe, 114-120, 225-231
B. Development of Political Regimes
M Apr 2 America v. Europe -Vig & Stiefbold , 147-78W Apr 4 Modernization and authoritarian regimes - Vig & Stiefbold, 203-32
M Apr 6 Totalitarian regimes - Eckstein & Apter, 440-448, 464-468
M Apr 9 Case study: the Soviet Union - Solzhenitsyn, entire
W Apr 11 The transformation of Western European politics - Vig & Stiefbold, 328-58
F Apr 13 Contemporary democratic politics: A New Crisis? - Soe, 83-101, 114-120
II. POLITICS IN POSTINDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES
A. Great Britain
M Apr 16 British political development - Kesselman, 28-50W Apr 18 No class
F Apr 20 British constitutional system - Kesselman, 50-70; Soe, 23-28, 40-41
*first paper due in class*M Apr 23 The Blair revolution - Kesselman, 70-77; Soe, 18-22, 29-36
B. France
W Apr 25 The French state and political economy - Kesselman, 80-104F Apr 27 The Fifth Republic - Kesselman, 104-132, Soe, 51-62
M Apr 30 Mid-term break - No class
C. Germany
M May 2 German political regimes - Kesselman, 134-70W May 4 Current German politics - Kesselman, 170-86; Soe, 42-50
M May 7 * Mid-term exam * - all of above
III. THE END OF NATIONALISM? THE EUROPEAN UNION
W May 9 The problem of social integration - Caporaso, 1-41, Soe, 141-48F May 11 The democratic deficit - Caporaso, 42-113; Soe, 149-54
IV. TRANSITIONS FROM COMMUNISM TO DEMOCRACY: RUSSIA TO THE SOVIET UNION AND BACK
M May 14 Russian and Soviet political development - Kesselman, 426-436W May 16 The Soviet breakdown - Kesselman, 436-51
F May 18 The new Russian regime - Kesselman, 452-72
M May 21 The current crisis - Kesselman, 472-83; Soe, 166-73
*second paper due in class*
V. COLONIALISM, AUTHORITARIANISM, AND DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA
W May 23 Nigerian state building - Kessleman, 545-574F May 25 Nigerian political culture - Achebe, Man of the People (entire)
M May 28 From the First to the Fourth Republics - Kesselman, 574-605
VI. GLOBALIZATION, CAPITALISM, AND DEMOCRACY
W May 30 Globalization and cultures - Soe, 214-222, 236-40
Final exam (covers Parts III-VI of the course)