POLI 201 Comparative Government

The purpose of this course is to explore the relationship between politics and state structure in a variety of political settings. The course will be structured around four emerging political developments: globalization, the emergence of post-communist states, the rise of the neoliberal state in the developing world, and the growth of oppositional movements such as anti-globalism, anarchism, and cultural nationalism in response. Students will examine a number of different forms of government, will assess the strengths and weaknesses of each, and will investigate the impact of cultural context on political ideas and institutions.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. 1. Summarize critically the characteristics of a variety of different types of national government
   and the major issues that drive politics in a number of different national settings.
2. 2. Analyze critically major issues of comparative government and politics, identify their
   assumptions, explore contrasting positions, and arrive at their own positions on these issues.
3. 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving
   government and politics.
4. 4. Apply political theory and research to controversies in comparative government or politics to
   draw conclusions about resolving them.
5. 5. Analyze the typical state forms in the advanced capitalist democracies and demonstrate how
   they have been transformed by the globalization process.
   
6. 6. Explore the nature of emerging post-communist states.
   
7. 7. Explain the relationship between globalization and neoliberalism in the developing countries.
   
8. 8. Analyze the emerging political critiques of globalization including anti-globalism, anarchism,
   green politics, subcultural nationalism, and neo-fascism.
9. 9. Formulate specific, unified, and concise theories through writing that demonstrate an understanding of political science thinking.

Course Objectives

1. 1. Summarize critically the characteristics of a variety of different types of national government
   and the major issues that drive politics in a number of different national settings.
2. 2. Analyze critically major issues of comparative government and politics, identify their
   assumptions, explore contrasting positions, and arrive at their own positions on these issues.
3. 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving
   government and politics.
4. 4. Apply political theory and research to controversies in comparative government or politics to
   draw conclusions about resolving them.
5. 5. Analyze the typical state forms in the advanced capitalist democracies and demonstrate how
   they have been transformed by the globalization process.
   
6. 6. Explore the nature of emerging post-communist states.
   
7. 7. Explain the relationship between globalization and neoliberalism in the developing countries.
   
8. 8. Analyze the emerging political critiques of globalization including anti-globalism, anarchism,
   green politics, subcultural nationalism, and neo-fascism.
9. 9. Formulate specific, unified, and concise theories through writing that demonstrate an understanding of political science thinking.