NORTHERN
Department of Political Science
Instructor: Srie Ramli
POLS 260
Office: ZH 422
Section 01
Phone: 753-7044
MWF, 11-11.50
Office hours: M-W
12.30-1.00 DuSable 461
E-mail: sramli@niu.edu
COMPARATIVE AND FOREIGN POLITICS
This course is an introduction to the comparative study
of governments and politics. The goal is
to understand how political authority is organized and how it operates in a
variety of nations. In the effort to
understand why political system vary in form and substance across time and
space, the course will examine both historical processes of political change
and development and contemporary political institutions, practices and
policies.
The course focuses on six important contemporary states:
The objective is that students who successfully completed
this course can have the ability to examine political systems of the six
countries by contrasting and comparing aspects of these political systems and
by seeking generalizations about them.
Michael G. Roskin, Coutries and Concepts: Politics, Geography,
Culture, 8th edition (Prentice Hall, 2003)
In-class handouts
Videos (if time and schedule
permit)
Course Requirements and Grading:
Students
are expected to keep up with the readings, which mean that you should complete
each reading assignment by the time we begin the corresponding section of the
course. The lectures will parallel and
complement the readings, but students cannot count on the lectures repeating
the reading. The exams will be based in
equal parts on the readings and lectures.
Attendance and class participation
Attendance
at all class sessions is expected and I will check attendance at the beginning
of every session. An attendance score
will be calculated as the percentage of the class sessions that you attend, and
this score will determine 15% of your course grade. The participation portion of your final grade
is designed to reward those students who came to class prepared. Satisfactory class participation requires
that students are present and attentive as well as contributing to class
discussions in a manner that reflects they have read the required
materials.
Occasionally
missing classes and quizzes may not affect your final grade; however, repeated
absences will start to limit your maximum achievable grade. After the first week of class, I request that
you try to sit in approximately the same place to facilitate our learning and
to associate names with real live people for quickly monitoring attendance.
The Learning Environment
Respect for the learning community and the learning
process would normally include coming to class on time and remaining in ones
seat, requesting permission to speak and exclude persistent lateness, studying
for another class, and reading newspaper.
Note that entering and leaving the room while class is in progress is
not acceptable (I will count any “walkouts” as absences unless the student has
permission or there is an emergency). My
classes start at three minutes past the hour in order to allow for accidents. Comments that are not relevant to the ongoing
discussion, off the point, disruptive to discussion, insensitive to others, or
attempt to dominate the discussion will not be rewarded.
Exams
There will be three exams. Two of these will be midterms in class on October 4 and November 1. Each one will
count for 20% of your course grade. The
final exam is comprehensive, but approximately more than half of the questions
will be on material covered after the second exam. The final exam will count for 35% of your
course grade and take place during the regularly scheduled final exam period (December 8). The format of the exam will be a combination
of essay, short answers, and multiple choices.
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN,
except at the discretion of the instructor well in advance of the exam.
Quizzes and Class Reports
There will be 6 unannounced quizzes given in class
throughout the semester. These quizzes
will be held which will also require you to be able to write about what you
have read for class that day, including current affairs as reported in the news
such as the New York Times. The best 4 will be counted toward 10% of your
final grade.
At
the end of each class you will hand in a “class report” containing two sentences: (1) what is the most
important/interesting thing you learned in class that day; and (2) what is your
most important/puzzling remaining question.
Put your name and date on this essay and hand it in before leaving the
room. These will count towards the 15%
of your grades that rides on attendance and class participation.
Components of Final Grade
A. Attendance and participation 15%
B. Quizzes and Class Reports 10%
C. Midterm exam (1) 20%
D. Midterm exam (2) 20%
E. Final Exam
35%
Course grades will be distributed
as follows:
Final average and any extra
credit
Final Grade
90-100%
A
80-89% B
60-79%
C
50-59%
D
Below 50%
F
Miscellaneous
The Department of Political
Science will recognize, on an annual basis, outstanding undergraduate papers
written in conjunction with 300-400 level political science courses or directed
studies. Authors do not have to be political science majors or have a
particular class standing. Winners are expected to attend the Department’s
spring graduation ceremony where they will receive a certificate and $50.00.
Papers, which can be submitted by students or faculty, must be supplied in
triplicate to a department secretary by February 28. All copies should have two
cover pages – one with the student’s name and one without the student’s name.
Only papers written in the previous calendar
year can be considered for the award. However, papers completed in the current
spring semester are eligible for the following year’s competition even if the
student has graduated.
Under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable
accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those students with
disabilities that may have some impact on their coursework and for which they
may require accommodations should notify the Center for Access-Ability
Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of the
Undergraduates are strongly
encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site on a regular
basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in
contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi,
exploring graduate study, researching career options, tracking department
events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and
activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu
Course Schedule
August 23 Introduction
Concepts: Nation and State, Comparing
Polities
August 25, 27
Read: Roskin chp 1
August 30, September 1, 3 Political
Systems, Political institutions and process
September 6
Labor Day (no class)
September 8, 10 Impact of the past
(Roskin Chpt. 2)
September 13, 15, 17
Political Institutions (Roskin Chp.3-6)
September 20, 22, 24
Impact of the past (Roskin Chp. 7)
September 27, 29
October 1
Political Institutions and Quarrels (Roskin Chp 8-11)
Midterm 1
October 4
October 6, 8, 11 Impact of the past (Roskin chp.
27)
October 13, 15
Governance and Policy Making (Roskin chp 27 and in-class handouts).
October 18, 20, 22 Impact of the Past (Roskin chp. 22)
October 25, 27, 29
Key Institutions and Political Interactions (Roskin chp. 23)
Midterm 2
November 1
November 3, 5 The Making of Modern Iranian
State (Roskin chp. 30)
November 8, 10, 12
Governance and Policy Making (in-class handouts, TBA)
November 15, 17 Traditional and Colonial
influence,
November 19, 22
the New Order (
November
24-28
Thanksgiving, have a nice break!
November 29, December 1
Review study guide
December 3
Reading day, no class
December 8
(10-11.50) Final exam week.