PSCI 140
Introduction to Comparative Politics Fall 2023 (also offered Spring 2024)
Division II

Class Details

The comparative study of politics looks mainly at what goes on inside countries, the domestic dynamics of power, institutions, and identities. This class considers analytic concepts central to the study of politics generally–the state, legitimacy, democracy, authoritarianism, clientelism, nationalism–to comprehend political processes and transformations in various parts of the world. Themes include: Where does political power come from? Does economic development drive political change, or the other way around? What is democracy, how does it arise, and how might it fail? How does international war leave its mark on domestic politics? How do religion and politics interact? Materials include classic texts, recent theoretical works, journalism, commentary, fiction, and a variety of sources related to current events in Ukraine and elsewhere.
The Class: Format: lecture; directed discussion
Limit: 30
Expected: 25
Class#: 1695
Grading: no pass/fail option, no fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: Three 3-page papers, a short interpretive exercise, and a final exam
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: first-years and sophomores
Distributions: Division II
Attributes: PSCI Comparative Politics Courses

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