INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Level
Semester
Summer 2018
Units
4
Number
N2
CCN
14328
Times
MTWT 12p-2p
Location
Dwinelle 145
Course Description

Who has the right to hold power in society?  Is there a “recipe” for economic development, and can it be applied to all countries, everywhere?  Is it possible to build democracy in places like North Korea, Iran, and China—or is democracy inappropriate, or impossible, within some cultural contexts?   What can ordinary people do to bring about political change?  These are some of the fundamental questions in comparative politics, and we will be wrestling with these issues over the course of the semester.  This course is designed to give you an introduction to dynamics of political and economic development, both within and across countries around the world.  In the process, the issues raised will challenge us to think, analyze, and write with creativity and rigor.  Attendance and lecture and discussion section required.

This course can satisfy either the Social & Behavioral Sciences or International Studies breadth requirement.

Instructor: Wendy Sinek, PhD