Course Description: This course is primarily asurvey study of ‘other people's politics’. During the semester we will study the social, economic and political arenas of diverse regions and countries of the world with an emphasis on the contemporary scene. Students will become familiar with governmental structures, political party systems, class structures, ethnic/religious divisions, and the economic organization of societies in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and East and South Asia. Our survey will also investigate the effects of globalization in different parts of the world, the spread of democracy and human rights, the emergence of a global consumer culture, and the fate of the New World Order.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.	Quizzes – The first day of each week (save the first day of class) students will take a quiz on the material covered from the preceding week. The quizzes will be short answer in nature and last approximately 20 minutes.
2.	Small group projects – On Thursday of every week students will meet in small groups to discuss a topic relevant to the material we are covering. The groups will work in class and complete short written assignments. No grades will be given, but participation in the group projects does count toward the course grade. Students are expected to participate in each project. No make-ups will be given.
3.	Short papers – Students will write three short papers based on group projects I-III. These are individual, not group, assignments. The papers should be 2-4 pages in length and are due in class the first day of class following the group project.
4.	Final exam – At the end of the term students will write a take-home final exam based on the materials covered throughout the entire semester. The exam is a written, open-book assignment focused on the July 2 Mexican presidential elections. It will be handed out the last day of class and is due Friday, July 7.

GRADES:

Grades in this course will be assigned according to the following formula:

Assignment	Total	Each
Quizzes	30%	10%
Small group projects	12%	3%
Short papers	30%	10%
Final exam	28%	na

Late papers and exams will be penalized one full letter grade. Make-ups and incompletes will not be given except in cases of documented emergencies or other exceptional circumstances.

READINGS:
There are two primary readings sources in this course.

[1]	Charles Hauss, Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, 3rd edition (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2000);
[2]	On-line articles.

The Hauss textbook is available in the H. D. Smith Bookstore on the West Bank. All other readings are available on-line and accessible through the course web page, or on reserve in the basement of Wilson Library.

INTRODUCTION

June 13	Introduction to the course The comparative method Two philosophies of science no readings
June 14	Four concepts in comparative politics The United States Hauss, chs. 1-2 The Constitution of the United States, esp. Articles I-III
June 15	A familiar comparison:  the United Kingdom Hauss, chs. 3-4 Small group project I: 'Third way' politics Tony Blair, "Third Way, better way" Jonathan Chait, "The Slippery Center" Peter Schwartz, "The ‘Third Way' loses its allure."

COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD AND CONCEPTS APPLIED

June 20	Quiz I France and the state Hauss, ch. 5
June 21	Japan and political class Hauss, ch. 8
June 22	Russia Hauss, chs. 9-10	Small group project II:  Yeltsin, Putin and Russian democracy Leon Aron, "Yeltsin: A revolutionary life." Peter Schwartz, "The transfer of power in Moscow"
June 27	Quiz II China and the intersection between the state and class Hauss, chs. 11 Trevor Corson, "China's Blue-Collar Blues"
June 28	The Middle East and political culture Hauss, chs. 14
June 29	Small group project III:  Islam and democracy CQ Researcher, "Islamic fundamentalism." ON RESERVE Mohamed Elhachmi Hamdi, "The Limits of the Western Model" Nigeria and the legacy of colonialism Hauss, on-line chapter
July 4	University holiday -- no class
July 5	Quiz III Mexico, the state and economic development Hauss, chs. 12, 16
July 6	Globalization Hauss, ch. 17 Small group project IV:  Sweatshops Paul Krugman, "In Praise of Cheap Labor" Tim Connor and Jeff Atkinson, "Sweating for Nike"
	FINAL EXAM DUE FRIDAY, JULY 7

FALL 1999

SUMMER 1999

SPRING 1999

WINTER 1999

FALL 1998

SUMMER 1998