Pols 260-5
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Northern
Department of Political Science
Spring 2008
DU 461, T& TH 6:00-7:15
Instructor: Sokbunthoeun So
Office: DuSable 476
Tel: 753-1818
E-mail: sso1@niu.edu
Office hours: T & Th 4:30-6:00 and by appointment
This course is an introduction to the study of comparative politics. It is designed with two main goals. First, it seeks to familiarize you with analytical approaches to the study of politics and to give you the opportunity to reflect on some important political issues in democratic and non-democratic countries today. Second, it gives you the opportunity to learn about various countries’ political system. Your new understanding from this class should enhance your role as citizens 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.
This course will examine the politics of
Resources
Please
purchase a copy of textbook for this course: Michael G. Roskin, Countries
and Concepts: Politics, Geography, Culture 9th edition at the
Lectures will parallel and compliment the readings. Therefore, students cannot rely solely on lectures or readings.
Assessment
Final grade for this course is assessed from students’ performance in three examinations, quizzes, attendance, and thoughtful contribution to the class. There will be two midterm exams. The first exam (worth 25 percent) will be written in class on February 14. The second exam (worth 25 percent) will take place on April 3. A final exam, worth 40% percent, will be taken on May 08. The format of each exam will be a combination of essay, short answer, and multiple-choice. Attendance and thoughtful class contribution constitute 10% of the final grade.
In addition, five quizzes will be given as extra credit assignments. These quizzes are designed to help students coming to class prepared. They are worth up to 5% of the final grade and will be given without prior notice. In order to do well in the quizzes, students should complete assigned readings before coming to class. These quizzes will help those who have borderline grades. For example, if your final grade falls between an A and a B, the extra credit from the quizzes can help you achieve a better grade.
Overall course grade will be assessed
according to the followings:
Due
First exam 25% Feb 14
Second exam 25% April 3
Final exam 40% May 08
Attendance and thoughtful participation 10%
No make up exam will be offered, except in cases of emergency, as defined by the instructor, and with advance notification. If such circumstances arise, please contact me as soon as possible and where possible before the scheduled exam. Students will be asked to support requests for makeup exams with documentation. No makeup exam will be allowed unless arrangements are made before the regularly scheduled exam has been graded and returned. Incomplete requests will be granted only in unusual circumstances, when supported with documentation. Missing an exam in itself is not a reason for an incomplete.
Attendance and class participation
Students are expected to attend all class sessions. I will check attendance at the start or the end of every session. One or two absence is allowed and may not affect your final grade. However, since the attendance and class participation worth 10 percent of the final grade, frequent absences will limit your ability to achieve maximum grade. The attendance and participation grade is designed to reward students who came to class prepared. A full 10 percent grade is rewarded to students, who are present, attentive, and thoughtfully contributing to class discussions.
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
Classroom
Etiquette
Students are to arrive at class on time. Students are to remain for the entire session unless excused by the instructor beforehand or confronted with a serious personal emergency. For instance, it is not acceptable for students to walk in and out of class to answer cell phones, take casual bathroom and smoking breaks, or attend to other personal matters. Sleeping in class is NOT an acceptable behavior. 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. Disrespectful behavior either toward instructor or other fellow students will not be tolerated. Students, who behave inappropriately, will be asked to leave. Overall, classroom dialogue and behavior should always be courteous, respectful of others, and consistent with the expectations set forth by the university.
Academic Integrity. Students are expected to know and comply with NIU policies on academic integrity (see p. 47 of 2001 Undergraduate Catalog). The use without proper acknowledgement of the ideas or work of another person is cheating/ plagiarism.
The 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 those sources or if they paraphrase ideas from such sources without 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."
All quotations and all paraphrasing
of the ideas of others must be referenced. All sources, including the
internet, must be clearly referenced by a recognised form of footnotes,
endnotes or in‑text referencing, and in a bibliography. Note that
all internet referencing must include the author or institution in the
reference, and with all of your sources, but particularly with the internet,
you must be careful to use only reputable works that are appropriate to
academic writing.
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
Department of Political Science Web Site. Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science’s 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
January 15
Introduction to the Course
January 17
Key Concepts
January 22
Key Concepts continued
January 24
January 29
January 31
February 05
Reading: Roskin, pp.30-45
Video: “Order! Order!” VIDEO: JN508 .O6331994
February 07
Donley Studlar, “A Constitutional Revolution in
February 12
Review and Catch Up (No Class)
February 14
First
Exam
February 19
Video: “The Death of the Old Regime: The French Revolution.”
February 21
February 26
141; box on page 142 (democracy)
The Economist, “
The Washington Post, “Sarkozy
wins, wow to restore pride in
February 28
Reading: Roskin, pp. 100-112, pp. 114-115; pp. 141 (business and …)-145.
March 04
Matine Durand and John Martin, “The 35-hour week: Portrait
of a French Exception,” OECD Observer, No. 244 (September 04), pp.
10-12; The Economist, “
March 06.
Video: “Meiji:
March 11: Spring Break
March 13: Spring Break
March 18
March 20
March 25
(no one in charge)-389.
Video: “Inside Japan, Inc.” DS 849.U61574 1992
March 27
Reading: Roskin, pp.392-405.
The Economist, “The Sun Also Rises,” (October 8, 05), pp. 3-6.
[E-reserve].
April 01
Catch up and review
April 03
Second
Exam
April 08
Video: “Two Coasts of
April 10
Reading: Roskin, pp.436-438; box on page 452 (the Great Leap Forward); box on page 453 (The Great Proletariat ...); pp. 440-442.
April 15
April 17
pp.451-477.
Video: “
April 22
Video: “Which Way Next for
April 24
Reading: Roskin, box on page 552 (Is Islam Anti-Modern); pp. 553 (Iranian
Political Culture)-563.
April 29
Reading: Roskin, pp459-553.
May 1
Afshin Molavi, “Buying
Time in
83, 2004, pp. 9-16. [Electronic Reserve];
The Economist, “Still Failing, Still Defiant,” pp. 23-25 [Electronic Reserve].
May 6
Catch up and review
May 8
Final
Exam