POLS 260: FOREIGN AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Northern Illinois University

Department of Political Science

Fall 2004, Dusable 459

Section 5: T&Th 3:30-4:45

 

Instructor: Kheang Un

Office: Zulauf 422

Phone: 815-753-7044 ; email: kun1@niu.edu

Office Hours: T &Th 2-3:30 and by appointment

 

This course is NIU’s introduction to the study of political systems outside the United States.  As such, it has two main goals.  First, it will give you a chance to study the politics of particular countries you probably know little about.  Second, it seeks to convey analytical approach to the study of politics and to provide you with an opportunity to reflect on some of the essential questions, old and new, with which students of politics have to grapple.  Your new understanding from this class should enhance your roles as citizen in a democracy, i.e., enable you to make more informed judgments on the policies that our leaders propose to follow in dealing with foreign countries.

 

To achieve its comparative goal, this course will examine the political systems of Great Britain, France, Japan, China, Russia, Iran and Vietnam.

 

Course Policies and Requirements

1.  The Learning Environment. Your instructor is committed to the principle of active learning.  This principle requires students’ active involvement in, commitment to, and responsibility for their own education.  Hence, it is important that students conduct themselves in ways that indicate respect for the learning community and the learning process.  Respect for the learning community should preclude such behavior as persistent tardiness, leaving the room during class time (unless prior advice was given to the instructor or in case of emergency), falling asleep, reading the newspaper, studying for another class, and chatting with others.

 

2. Readings and Lecture. Please purchase a copy of textbook for this course:  Michael G. Roskin, Countries and Concepts: Politics, Geography, Culture 8th edition at the Student Center or at Village Common Bookstores.  Some short readings may also be distributed in class.

 

Lectures will parallel and compliments the readings.  As such, students cannot just rely solely on the lectures or the readings.

 

3. Class attendance and Participation.  Attendance at all class session is expected, and the instructor will check the attendance regularly.  Class participation and attendance will account for 10 percent of the total course grade.  More significantly, informed participation in class discussion will significantly help students in borderline grade situations.

4. Exams.  This course will have three exams.  Two will be midterms written in class on September 23 and November 02.  Each of these exams will be worth 20 percent of the total course grade.  A final exam, worth 30 percent, will be taken during the regular final exam day, December 07 from 4:00-5:50 pm.  The format of each exam will be a combination of essay, short answer, and multiple-choice.  No make up exam will be offered, except in cases of emergency, as defined by the instructor, and with advance notification.  There will also be some pop quizzes given without prior notice.  The total points from all quizzes will be worth 10 percent of the total course grade.

 

5. Course Grade.  Course Grades will be distributed as follows:

            Final Average                                     Final Grade

            90-100 %                                                        A

            80-89 %                                                          B

            65-79%                                                           C

            50-64                                                               D

            Below 50%                                                     F

 

6. Academic Integrity.  Students are expected to know and comply with NIU polices on academic integrity (see p. 47 of 2001 Undergraduate Catalog).  Any student found guilty of cheating or plagiarizing will receive an “ F” for the examination and the course.  He or she may also be subject to additional sanctions imposed by the university.

 

7. Undergraduate Writing Awards. 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.

 

8. Statement Concerning Students with Disabilities. 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 Health Services Building. CAAR will assist students in making appropriate accommodations with course instructors. It is important that CAAR and instructors be informed of any disability-related needs during the first two weeks of the semester.

 

9. Department of Political Science Web Site.  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

 

           

               Schedule of Lectures, Required Readings, and Exams

 

August 24

            Introduction to the Course

 

August 26

            Concept of the Country

            State Formation

            Looking for Quarrels

            Democratization

            Political Culture

 

 

August 31

            Great Britain: Impact of the Past Roskin, pp. 22-34

                                    Political Culture Roskin, pp. 53-65

           

September 02

            Great Britain: Elections and Parties Roskin, p. 50, box on p. 51, pp. 66-73

            Key Institutions: pp. 36-50, pp. 74-77

           

September 07

            Great Britain: Quarrels: Roskin pp. 79-92

 

           

September 09

            France: Impact of the Past Roskin pp. 96-111

            Video: The French Revolution Reconsidered.

 

September 14

            France: Political Culture Roskin pp. 130-145

            France: Elections and Parties pp. 147-160, pp. 124-125, box on p. 126       

 

September 16

            France: Key Institutions Roskin pp. 113-124, p. 127, box on p.128

                        : Quarrels Roskin: pp. 162-175

           

 

 

September21

            Exam I

 

 

September23

            Japan: Impact of the Past, Roskin pp. 340-353

                        Video: Meiji: Asia’s Response to the West

 

September28

            Japan: Political Culture Roskin, pp. 367-381

         : Elections and Parties Roskin pp. 359-363, box on p. 364, pp. 387-389,

           pp. 391 (danger of)-394

 

September30

Japan: Government Institutions Roskin pp. 363-66, pp. 382-386,

389 (No One)-391

         : Quarrels Roskin pp. 396-411  

 

October 05

            China: Impact of the Past Roskin, pp. 416-424, box on p. 434

                        Video: Two Coasts of China

 

October 07

           

            China: Government Institutions Roskin, PP. 424-429

                     : Political Culture Roskin, box on p. 420, box on p. 421, pp. 430-432,

                        box on p. 433, box on p. 435, box on p. 436

 

October 12

            China: Quarrels Roskin, box on p. 426, pp. 433 (from Chrouching)-446

 

 

October 14

            Russia: Impact of the Past Roskin, 262-277, box on p. 286, box on p. 287,

                        box on p. 312, box on p. 313, box on p. 315, box on p. 317, box on p. 320,

                        box on p. 321,

            Russia: Political Culture Roskin, pp. 295-309.

 

October19

Russia: Government Institutions Roskin, pp. 279-293, p. 314, pp. 319-322, box on

             p. 316,           

 

October21

            Russia: Parties and Elections Roskin, box on p. 288,

                        pp. 310-312, p. 293 (A Party System Under) box on p. 292,

           

 

October26

            Quarrels: Roskin, pp. 314-318, pp. 324-336, p. 314 

 

October28

            Exam II

 

November 02

            Vietnam: Impact of the Past

            Video: The Root Cause of Conflict

 

November04

            Party and Government Institutions: Thaveeporn Vasavakul, pp. 379-395

 

November 09

            Vietnam before and after doi moi: Thaveeporn Vasavakul, pp.376-379,

            pp.395 (State Ideology)-408.

 

November11

            Vietnam before and after doi moi (continued)

           

November16

            Iran: Imapct of the Past: Roskin, pp.518-525

 

November18

            Iran: Political Culture: Roskin, pp.529-535, box on p. 536

 

November23

            Iran: Election and Parties: Roskin, Box on p. 526, pp. 528-529, pp. 535-539

            Iran: Key Institutions: Roskin, p. 525, pp. 526-528

 

November25

            Thanksgiving!

 

November30

            Iran: Quarrels: Roskin, pp. 540-548

 

December 02

            Catch-up, review and discussion

 

December 07

Final Exam 4:00-5:50 pm