GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

This course introduces students to comparative politics, the study and comparison of politics across countries. One of the major subfields of political science, comparative politics focuses on power and decision-making within national boundaries, comparing these across countries. Taking a thematic approach, the course investigates the central ideas and questions in comparative politics.
The course starts off with discussions on key concepts and theoretical approaches in comparative politics and different comparative methods. It then examines the state, political regimes and political economy, going into deeper discussions of democracy and authoritarianism, regimes in developed, communist/postcommunist and developing countries. The course delves into executives, legislatures, judiciaries, bureaucracies, public policy, and subnational governments. It also explores political culture, political participation and political communication. The last sessions deal with important political processes, organizations and actors (elections, political parties, voters, interest groups, etc.)

The course seeks to acquaint students with comparative politics as an academic sub-discipline; to introduce students to key concepts and theoretical approaches used in studying politics in different countries; and to help students analyze political developments with a more critical eye and through a more comparative lens.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

The course will consist mainly of lectures and open discussion. Students will be asked - and encouraged - to express their views on topics being discussed. Audio-visual aids (video clips, photos, maps illustrations) will be used to help make issues and events much more concrete and vivid to students, and to help stimulate discussion and debate. Feedback on assignments will be provided during class discussions, by email or through individual consultations.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Introduction; Key Concepts (Hague et al., Chapter 1)

Government and Governance
Politics and Power
The State, Authority and Legitimacy
Ideology
Political Systems

2[対面/face to face]：Theoretical Approaches; Comparative Methods
(Hague et al., Chapters 2-3)

Institutional, Rational Choice,
Structural and
Cultural Approaches
Qualitative,
Quantitative and
Historical Methods

3[対面/face to face]：The State; Democratic Rule (Hague et al., Chapters 4-5)

What is a State? Its
Origins and Evolution
Nations, Nationalism
Direct and Representative Democracy
Liberal Democracy
Modernization and Democracy
Democratization

4[対面/face to face]：Authoritarian Rule (Hague et al., Chapter 6); Communism and Postcommunism
(O’Neil, Chapter 9)

Hybrid Regimes
Authoritarian Regimes
Impact of Corruption
Communism
Revolution
Putting Communism into Practice
Communist Political Economy
Societal Institutions

5[対面/face to face]：Communism and Postcommunism
(continuation); Developing Countries (O’Neil, Chapter 10)

Collapse of Communism
Transformation of Political, Economic and Societal Institutions
The Developing World
Imperialism and Colonialism
Challenges of Post-Imperialism
Democracy and Development

6[対面/face to face]：Political Economy; Constitutions and Courts (Hague et al., Chapters 20 and 7);

Understanding Political Economy
Comparative Political Economy
The Welfare State
Development and Global Divisions
Constitutions
Role of Courts
Systems of Law

7[対面/face to face]：Review & Exam

Assess to what degree students understand topics discussed; midterm exam

8[対面/face to face]：Executives; Legislatures (Hague et al., Chapters 8-9)

Heads of State and Government
Presidential, Parliamentary and
Semi-Presidential Executives
Role of Legislatures
One Chamber or Two?
Representatives

9[対面/face to face]：Bureaucracies; Public Policy (Hague et al,, Chapters 10 and 19)

Bureaucracies: Origins, Evolution
E-government
How Bureaucracies are Organized
Models of the Policy Process
Policy Cycle
Policy Diffusion and Convergence

10[対面/face to face]：Sub-national Governments; Political Culture (Hague et al,, Chapters 11-12)

Multi-level Governance
Unitary and Federal Systems
Local government
Understanding Political Culture
From The Civic Culture to Postmaterialism
Political Trust
A Clash of Civilizations?

11[対面/face to face]：Political Participation; Political Communication (Hague et al,, Chapters 13-14)

Who Participates, and Why?
Public Opinion and Its Dynamics
Women in Politics
Mass Media: Evolution
Into the Digital Age
Media Influence
Trends in Political Communication

12[対面/face to face]：Elections; Political Parties (Hague et al,, Chapters 15-16)

Legislative Elections
Executive Elections
Referendums
Political Parties: Origins and Roles
Party Systems
Party Organization

13[対面/face to face]：Voters; Interest Groups
(Hague et al,, Chapters 17-18)

Party Identification
How Voters Choose
Voter Turnout
Interest Groups: Origins, Types and Dynamics
Channels and Ingredients of Influence

14[対面/face to face]：Exam & Wrap-up

Assess to what degree students understand topics discussed; final exam

Before class, students should study the required readings and work on
the assignment (individual or group) to be submitted. After class, and
especially before an exam, students should review their notes, as well
as check the notes provided by the instructor. Preparatory study is 2
hours for each class session, but group work may entail an additional 30
minutes. Review for an exam would take at least 3 hours.

Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and John McCormick (2019), Comparative Government and Politics, 11th edition, London: Red Globe Press.

Patrick H. O’Neil (2020), Essentials of Comparative Politics, 7th edition, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Participation in class discussions: 40% of overall course mark.
Midterm examination: 30%
Final examination: 30%

Nothing in particular.

Use of mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices during class is prohibited (exceptions only in special cases).

None