Walt Vanderbush
Office: 317 Harrison Hall
Hours: W, 3:00-5:00, TH, 10:00-11:00, and by appt.
Phone: 529-2018
Email: vanderw@muohio.edu

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to some of the most important issues in the field of comparative politics. Our discussion will be organized around the question of how political power is distributed and exercised over time and in different contexts. We will look at topics ranging from peasant politics at the grassroots level to the influence of international factors on domestic politics. Subjects receiving particular attention include political development, institutions (interest groups and parties), ideology (Marxism and liberal democracy), political practice (democracy and authoritarianism), and political change (reform and revolution). We will explore these concepts by looking at cases drawn from both the "North" and "South." The discussion of these topics will be related whenever possible to contemporary political events.

Miami Plan: Political Science 221 is a foundation course, and as such is intended as preparation for more advanced and in-depth study by students in their chosen fields. In particular, we will focus here on such specific Miami Plan objectives as critical thinking, understanding contexts, and engaging with other learners. Class meetings will include both lecture and discussion, and as the semester progresses the portion of class time devoted to student discussion should increase.

Readings:
Alvarado, Elvia, Don't be afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks from the Heart
Hauss, Charles, Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges

A packet of articles is also required and is available at the Dubois Bookstore.

Course Evaluation: Students will be graded on the basis of two exams during the semester and a final exam. In addition, each student is required to turn in three short papers during the course of the semester. Two of those will be position papers (approximately four pages), which are explained in a handout you will receive on the first day of class. A sign up sheet with a limited number of slots for each day will be available during the first few class meetings. The third paper (approximately two pages) will be based on your reaction to two articles about low wage workers in the course packet. You will be asked to analyze the experience of poverty by making an argument about the role that you believe government should or should not play in the lives of people in the stories. This assignment, as well as attendance and participation expectations will be explained in more detail during the first class meeting. The short papers will account for approximately 25% when determining final grades. The other 75% will come from the three exams, which will be roughly equal in value.

Course Outline:

For the reading below: Hauss refers to the Comparative Politics textbook; Alvarado refers to the Gringo book; all other listed readings are by author from the packet available at the Copy Shop. The page numbers for articles in the packet refer to the original article, not the packet itself.

Tues. Jan 8 Introduction to the Class

Thurs. Jan 10 The role of government in a liberal democracy (US case)
Read: Hauss p. 24-25, 30-33, and 37-44

Tues. Jan 15 Peasant Politics
Read: Begin Alvarado

Thurs. Jan 17 Discussing "Gringo"
Read: Finish Alvarado

Tues. Jan 22 Political and Economic Development
Read: Handelman p. 1-19; Sowell p. 174-181

Thurs. Jan. 24 Political and Economic Development (continued)
Read: Martinez and Garcia p. 1-2; Albert p. 24-29; Herman p. 40-45

Tues. Jan 29 Case of India
Read: Hauss ch. 13

Thurs. Jan 31 Conclude India and Begin Mexico
Read: Begin Hauss ch. 16

Tues. Feb 5 Theories of Revolution and continue Case of Mexico
Read: DeFronzo p. 7-25; continue Hauss ch. 16

Thurs. Feb 7 Conclude Mexico and begin Case of South Africa
Read: Begin Hauss ch. 15

Tues. Feb 12 Conclude Case of South Africa
Read: Finish Hauss ch. 15

Thurs. Feb 14 Government and Sports: Case of the Olympics
Read: Toohey and Veal p. 74-100

Tues. Feb 19 No class, M/T switch

Thurs. Feb 21 Midterm Exam

Tues. Feb 26 Marxism,Communism, and "Bourgeois Democracy"
Read: Hauss p. 232-239

Thurs. Feb 28 Case of China
Read: Hauss ch. 11

Tues. Mar 5 Conclude China and begin Russia
Read: Begin Hauss ch. 10

Thurs. Mar 7 Case of Russia
Read: Hauss ch. 10

March 12 and 14 Spring Break

Tues. Mar 19 Case of Britain
Read: Hauss ch. 4

Thurs. Mar 21 Conclude Britain
Read: Finish Hauss ch. 4

Tues. Mar 26 No class - International Studies Association meetings

Thurs. Mar 28 Midterm #2

Tues. Apr 2 Nationalism and Case of Germany
Read: Cox p. 29-43; Begin Hauss ch. 6

Thurs. Apr 4 Conclude Germany
Read: Finish Hauss ch. 6

Tues. Apr 9 European Union
Read: Read: Hauss ch. 7

Thurs. Apr 11 Papers due on Poverty articles and discussion Read: Ehrenreich p. 37-52; Schlosser p. 39-47, 86, 87

Tues. Apr 16 Political parties and Interest groups
Read: Hauss p. 46-52

Thurs. Apr 18 Gender and Politics
Read: Barreca p. 14-16; hooks p. 1-6; Kurtz p. 1-2; Tripp p. 20-22; Dreifus p. 15-19

Tues. Apr 23 A Role for Government: the case of Title IX
Read: Weistart p. 39-43; Conniff p. 26-30; Suggs p. 35-37; Title IX p. 1-6

Thurs. Apr 25 A Role for Government continued: Affirmative Action
Read: Steele p. 206-211; Page p. 194-200; Schrag p. 100-104; Dworkin p. 105-113

Final Exam: Friday, May 3 at 9:45 am