CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Political Science 202                                                                                                                            Spring 2008
Governments and Politics of the World                                                                                             Dr. J. M. Vadi

Course Outline

Required Texts:

Patrick H. O'Neil, Essentials of Comparative Politics, second edition
Patrick H. O'Neil, K. Fields, D. Share, Cases in Comparative Politics, second edition

The Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 4:50 pm in building8 room 345.

Course Objectives:
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of comparative politics by examining a variety of political systems classified as liberal democracies, former communist systems in transition, and political systems in underdeveloped regions of the world. The growing economic interdependence of states, requires that students have knowledge of political systems other than their own as we move into the twenty-first century. Our destiny is linked evermore closely to events going on in other parts of the world and we will examine why and how this is so. In reviewing these political systems, we assess how various political systems have evolved; the political processes that are products of that evolution in given environments; the links between social, political, and economic institutions; and the key problems now faced by the regimes under study. These questions are examined within western and non-western contexts.

This is a broad and fast-paced course. It requires that students keep up with the reading and that they make an effort to follow events in the countries we cover as these events are reported in the daily press. The lectures and class discussions supplement and give more depth to class readings. To keep abreast of developments in the countries we will be studying, you should read a major newspaper such as the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, or the New York Times. You can access major newspapers electronically via the political science department web site at: http://www.class.csupomona.edu/pls/

Course Requirements:

  1. Regular class attendance is mandatory and poor attendance (defined as more than two absences) will lower your grade. Please arrange your personal affairs (e.g., work, childcare, transportation to class, etc.) in such a manner that you do not miss class. Attendance is recorded daily via a sign-up sheet.
  2. It is not possible to do well in this class with the attitude that this is "just another G.E. (General Education) class. The course content is broad and a significant effort is required for a grade of A. Please do not tell me what grade you "need" in this class as grades are based strictly on your performance as measured in exams. Grades in this class are not based on a curve.
  3. There will be four exams consisting of multiple-choice and essay questions. Each of these exams will count for 25% of your grade. You cannot pass this class without completing all four examinations. You will need a Scantron form 886 for each of the exams.
  4. Make-up exams are not granted routinely and require documentation of a medical emergency. In other words, make-ups are granted only if a student presents a verifiable medical note or can document an emergency that precluded taking the the exam at the time it is given. The documentation must be specific as to time and date. If granted, the make-up must be taken on the day after the missed exam date at the Learning Resources Center in trailers adjacent to the Cal Poly Library.
  5. Please do not bring activated beepers or cell phones into the classroom as these distract and interrupt the class (especially during exams). Under no circumstances are you to do work for other classes in this class (you will be asked to leave the class and marked absent of you do work for other classes in this class). Sleeping in class will be treated in the same manner. You should be focused on the class and nothing else. I would prefer you do not bring lap tops to class as most students are not focused on the class while using them.
  6. This class lasts one hour a fifty minutes with a break of ten minutes in between. I expect you to be in class after the short break. Cameo appearances are not accepted and will be counted as absences. In other words, don’t sign-in and leave or have someone sign the attendance sheet for you in your absence. If for an important reason you cannot return to the class after the recess, let me know at the beginning of the class so as to avoid being marked absent.

Readings  

In the readings below, "Essentials" refers to Essential of Comparative Politics and "Cases" refers to Cases in Comparative Politics.

Week: (approximate)

#1: Comparative Politics and States- "Essentials," chapters 1 and 2; "Cases," Chapter 1 (Introduction)

#2: Social Institutions and Politics-       " Essentials," Chapter 3

#3: Economic Institutions and Politics- "Essentials," Chapter 4

Test#1

# 4 & 5: Introduction to representative ("democratic") systems- "Essentials," ch. 6 and 7

     a.   England -"Cases," Chapter 2 
     b.   France   - "Cases," Chapter  4

Test#2

  #6 & 7: Post-Communist Transitions and Communist Regimes- "Essentials," ch. 5 and 8
             
     a.  Russia- "Cases," Chapter 6
     b.   People’s Republic of China- "Cases," Ch.7

     Test #3

#8 & 9: The Less Developed Countries- Essentials," Chapters 9 and 11
    a. Mexico - "Cases, " Chapter 10
    b. Iran and Iraq- "Cases," Chapter 9 and lecture on Iraq

If time permits, we will examine the political system of South Africa, "Cases," Chapter 12   

 Test #4
(This test will be given during finals week on the date scheduled for the final exam in the official university schedule of finals. )

Office Hrs. Location: Bldg. 94-312 

 Mondays and Wednesdays...............4 to 5 pm
Tuesdays and Thursdays..................2 to 3 pm
Telephone: 869-3881 (I prefer e-mail)
E-mail:  jmvadi@csupomona.edu
Website http://www.csupomona.edu/~jmvadi