This course provides an introduction to comparative politics. It aims to furnish students with the tools necessary to study politics and society in comparative perspective. The course is divided into five parts. The first introduces basic concepts and methods of comparative analysis and examines some of the core assumptions about human nature that underpin social scientists’ thinking. The second surveys the variety of political regimes under which people live. The third portion of the course examines the factors that influence which type of political regime prevails in particular national settings. The fourth section focuses on economic development. The fifth investigates problems of peace and conflict.
No laptop computers are allowed in class.