POLS371: POLITICS OF
Fall 2009 Instructor: Professor Kikue Hamayotsu
Department of Political Science Office: Zulauf 414
Northern
E-mail: khamayotsu@niu.edu
Lectures: M/W:
Room: DU 459
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Adam Cox
E-mail: acox@niu.edu
Office Hours: T/TH 11-12:30
Course
Overview:
This course surveys the modern politics of
In the past couple of decades,
This course will offer students analytical tools and approaches to investigate such issues of political and policy significance from historical, comparative and analytical perspectives. Students will learn how to account for various patterns of experiences across the nations, localities and groups under investigation. The issues taken up in the course include colonial legacies, state formation, democratization, authoritarianism, nationalism, business and politics, religious movements, ethnic conflicts, and civil society.
Course readings are chosen based on the
merits of their analytical arguments rather than their country coverage, to
enable students to achieve the following goals: (1) to gain empirical and
conceptual understandings of the political dynamics of the region; (2) to think
comparatively within the region and across the developing world more generally;
and (3) to address and debate theoretical questions in social science/political
science through Southeast Asian empirical cases. We do not, therefore, cover
every single country in the region in the same depth, but focus primarily on
the following countries:
This is a lecture course primarily intended for undergraduate students. In order to encourage discussion among students, weekly class meetings consist of lectures followed by discussion. Students will make oral presentation and discuss the section’s readings.
The course is largely divided into three
sections. The first is on colonial legacies and the emergence of modern ‘
Prerequisites:
Some political science background and/or at least completion of POLS 260 (Introduction to Comparative Politics) are highly recommended. A risk resulting from ignoring this advice will entirely be students’. Students who have some Southeast Asian Studies background are asked to consult the instructor before deciding to take the course.
Course
Requirements:
1. Class attendance:
a.
You are required to attend all the classes. More than three
unexcused absences will jeopardize your attendance grade and you will risk
failing the course. Please notify your TA in advance if you must miss class.
2. Do read the required readings. All the course requirements will enable students to develop their analytical skills in the course of your study of Southeast Asian politics. Students are expected to come to class having done the reading beforehand and to actively participate in discussion. It is important to approach the readings with the following questions in mind: (a) what is the central issue/debate? (b) what is the main argument/point? (c) what is the evidence for the argument? (d) what are the problems with the argument? (e) can you think of counterarguments? Students should also address these questions in writing assignments.
3.
One short term paper of 5-6pp. in
length:
a.
The question is given in class
in advance.
b.
The paper must be double-spaced
and properly footnoted.
c.
Paper is due on November 23.
Submit a hard copy in class.
4. Two in-class exams: composed of a short-answer section and some essay questions.
a. Mid-term exam
b. Final exam
5. One class presentation:
a. On the first day of class, students will be asked to sign-up for one week in which to present. The presentation should not coincide with the short analytical paper.
b. The presentation should be a critique of the readings and must address central controversies to stimulate class discussion. The critique can also include issues of policy relevance. You can be creative, but don’t just summarize the readings. The presentation should be approximately 10 minutes.
6. Random quizzes:
a. A handful of brief quizzes are given randomly throughout the semester. They focus on the required readings. The purpose of this component of the evaluation is to encourage the students to do the assigned readings, and to come to class prepared to discuss the material. Quiz questions may be included in the mid-term/final exams. If it becomes clear that people are not coming to class prepared, the instructor reserves the right to take the drastic action of giving pop quizzes. Otherwise, quizzes will be announced in the class before they are due.
Grade
distribution:
1. Class attendance and random quizzes (10%)
2. Presentation (10%)
3. Term paper (20%)
4. Exams (30%+30%)
Course
rules:
1. Late submission will result in grade reduction for a half-mark per day (e.g., “A” will be reduced to “A-” if submission is a day late).
2. Plagiarism Policy: According to the NIU Undergraduate Catalogue “Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources without identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university.” In short, all ideas that are not your own or well known must be footnoted. A general rule is that if the information cannot be found in three or more commonly available sources it should be footnoted. All direct quotations must be placed in quotation marks. If you are unsure as to what should be footnoted either play it safe and footnote, or ask for assistance. Failure to adhere to the University’s plagiarism policy will result in punishments ranging from a failed course grade to suspension and even expulsion, depending on the egregiousness of the infraction. Please refer to the following link for more information: http://polisci.niu.edu/polisci/audience/plagiarism.shtml.
3. Basic classroom manners:
Ø Turn off your electronic devices (e.g, I-pod, I-phone, Cell phone).
Ø No crossword, Sudoku, or any other game is permitted.
Course
All the textbooks have been ordered and are at the university bookstore. The rest of the readings will be uploaded in Blackboard.
Books
to Purchase:
Aspinall, Edward. 2005. Opposing Suharto:
Compromise, Resistance, and Regime Change in
Norman Owen, ed., The Emergence of Modern
Class Schedule
Section I: The
Emergence of Modern Nation-State in
Week 1-1 (Aug 24). Course
Introduction
Week 1-2 (Aug 26) What
is
Owen, chapter 1 (Introduction)
Week 2-1 (Aug 31). What
is
Anderson, Benedict. 1998. The Spectre of
Comparison: Nationalism,
Zakaria, Fareed. 1994. Culture is Destiny: A
Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew. Foreign Affairs 73 (2):109-26.
Week 2-2 (Sept 2). Colonialism:
Great transformation and its opponents (1)
Video: Riding the tiger 1.
Owen, chaps. 3-4 and 12-13.
Week 3-1 (Sept 7). LABOR DAY
Week
3-2 (Sept 9). Colonialism:
Owen, chap.14 and 15.
Week 4-1 (Sept 14). Colonialism:
Owen, chap.16 and 17.
Hirschman, Charles. 1986. The Making of Race in
Colonial
Additional reading:
Callahan, Mary P. 2003. Making Enemies: War and
Week 4-2 (Sept 16). Nationalism
and Nationalist Movements: Imagining “National” Communities
Case:
Video: Riding the tiger 2
Cribb, Robert. 1999. Nation: Making
Week 5-1 (Sept 21). State
Formation (1): Theories and Practices
Case:
Callahan, Mary P. 2003. Making Enemies: War and
Hutchcroft, Paul D. 2000. Colonial Masters,
National Politicos, and Provincial Lords: Central Authority and Local Autonomy
in the American
Week 5-2 (Sept 23). State
Formation (2)
Case:
Stubbs, Richard. 1997. The Malayan Emergency and
the Development of the
Section II:
Governments and Politics of Contemporary
Week 6-1 (Sept 28). Political
Regimes: Longevity and Fragility of Authoritarian regimes (1)
Case:
Aspinall, chap.2 (pp.20-48).
Owen, chap.31.
Week 6-2 (Sept 30). Authoritarian
Regimes 2
Case:
Video:
Riding the Tiger 3
Crouch, Harold. 1998.
Week 7-1 (Oct 5). Political
Regimes: Democratic Transitions (1)
Bartrand, Jacques. 1998. Growth and Democracy in
Week 7-2 (Oct 7). MID-TERM
EXAM (IN-CLASS)
Week 8-1 (Oct 12). Political
Regimes: Democratic Transitions (2)
Case:
Aspinall,
chap.8.
Week 8-2 (Oct 14). Political
Regimes: Democratic Transition (3)
Case: the
Anderson, Benedict. 1998. Cacique Democracy in the
Owen, chap.33.
Week 9-1 (Oct 19). Political
Regimes: Dominant Party Systems
“Letter from
Owen, chap.29.
Additional reading:
Crouch, Harold. 1993.
Week 9-2 (Oct 21).
Civil Society: Social Movements
Case:
Aspinall, pp.5-18, and chap.4 (pp.86-115).
Week 10-1 (Oct 26). Civil
Society: The Limits of Civil Society
Case:
Jesudason, James V. 1995. Statist Democracy and
the Limits of Civil Society in
Week 10-2 (Oct 28). Towards
Democratic Consolidation? Local ‘Boss’ Politics
Case:
Ockey, James. 1998. Crime, Society, and Politics
in
Section III:
Mobilization, Resistance, and Identity
Week 11-1 (Nov 2). Ethnicity
and Politics: Ethnic conflict (1)
Case:
Aspinall, Edward. 2006. Violence and Identity
Formation in Aceh under Indonesian Rule. In Verandah of Violence: The
Background to the Aceh Problem, edited by A. Reid.
Week 11-2 (Nov 4). Ethnicity
and Politics: Ethnic Conflict (2)
Case:
McCargo, Duncan. 2007. Thaksin and the Resurgence
of Violence in the Thai South. In Rethinking
Week 12-1 (Nov 9). Political
Violence: Killing Fields
Case:
Video: “Return to the Killing Fields”
Owen, chap.25 and 35.
Week 12-2 (Nov 11). Political
Economy: Politics of Growth
MacIntyre, Andrew, ed. 1994. Business and
Government in Industrializing
Owen, chap.27.
Week 13-1 (Nov 16). Religion
and Politics: Civil and Uncivil Religions
Case:
Week
13-2 (Nov 18). Religion
and Politics: Religion and Political Transformations
Case:
Matthews, Bruce. 1993. Buddhism under a Military
Regime: The Iron Heel in
Article on
Week
14-1 (Nov 23). Rebellions and Resistance: Everyday Forms of Resistance
Kerkvliet, Benedict J. Tria. 2005. The Power of
Everyday Politics: How Vietnamese Peasants Transformed National Policy.
***TERM PAPER DUE [IN CLASS]***
Week 14-2 (Nov 25) THANKSGIVING
Week 15-1 (Nov 30).
Week 15-2 (Dec 2). Reviews
DECEMBER 7 FINAL
EXAM
Tips for Doing Well in this Class
1. Do the readings AND come to class. Lectures will refer to the assigned readings but they will not summarize them and they are not an adequate substitute. Likewise, lectures will cover material that is not in the readings, and that may appear on the exams.
2. Read critically. As you read, note questions that you would like to raise in lecture or section, and think critically about the author's evidence and arguments.
3. Think comparatively. Ask yourself how the particular case you are reading about compares with similar developments in other countries, regions, or periods.
4. Participate actively in discussion sections and in lecture. Take notes on lectures, and be engaged in the question and discussion periods that will be held during the final minutes of class.
5. Keep up with current events. If you do not already do so, read the international pages of at least one major national / international paper every day. Examples include The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Think about how contemporary events relate to the themes and cases studied in class.
6. Know the locations of the countries and regions we cover. Geography is critically important for understanding a nation's historical development and importantly influences national security interests and many other areas of political life. If a name of a country is mentioned that you can't pinpoint on a map (a vague sense of where it is located is insufficient!), locate it on a map. Also note what its neighboring countries and regions are. Maps of the countries and regions of the world we will cover can be found in the Essentials of Comparative Politics text.
7. Follow up on topics you find particularly interesting by reading beyond the assigned texts. Look for hints of where to find additional materials by looking at footnotes and references in the readings or by asking your T.A. or me for suggested additional readings.
8. Take advantage of office hours. The T.A.s and I are here to help if you're having trouble understanding concepts or if you are simply interested in further discussing topics covered in class (see #7 above).
Other Important Information
Academic Dishonesty
Regarding plagiarism,
the NIU Undergraduate Catalog states: "Students are guilty of plagiarism,
intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other
sources without identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or
assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or
examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be
suspended or dismissed from the university." The above statement
encompasses a paper written in whole or in part by another; a paper copied
word-for-word or with only minor changes from another source; a paper copied in
part from one or more sources without proper identification and acknowledgment
of the sources; a paper that is merely a paraphrase of one or more sources,
using ideas and/or logic without credit even though the actual words may be
changed; and a paper that quotes, summarizes or paraphrases, or cuts and pastes
words, phrases, or images from an Internet source without identification and
the address of the web site.
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 an impact on their course work must register with
the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of the
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,
research 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
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 the end of March. 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.
Classroom Decorum
Students are to arrive
at class on time. Two tardy
arrivals are equivalent to one class absence. Students are to remain for the entire
session unless excused by the professor beforehand or confronted with a serious
personal emergency. For instance,
it is not acceptable to students to walk in and out of class to answer cell
phones, take casual bathroom and smoking breaks, or attend to other personal
matters. Cell phones, pagers,
or any electronic devices that make noise must be turned off during
class unless the instructor has been notified beforehand of a special
circumstance (e.g., sick family member, pregnant wife, special childcare
situation, etc.). No one should
talk while someone else is talking; this includes comments meant for a
classmate rather than the entire group.
What may seem like a whisper or a harmless remark to one person can be a
distraction to someone else, particularly in a small room. Overall, classroom dialogue and behavior
should always be courteous, respectful of others, and consistent with the
expectations set forth by the university.