| POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | |||||
| Bachelor | TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 | QF-EHEA: First Cycle | EQF-LLL: Level 6 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | Semester | Theoretical | Practical | Credit | ECTS |
| POL2024 | Comparative Politics:Selected Topics | Fall | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester |
| Language of instruction: | En |
| Type of course: | Departmental Elective |
| Course Level: | Bachelor |
| Mode of Delivery: | Face to face |
| Course Coordinator : | RA GÜNCE SABAH ERYILMAZ |
| Course Lecturer(s): |
Prof. Dr. MUSTAFA SABRİ SAYARI |
| Course Objectives: | The "selected topic" in Comparative Politics of this course is the politics of authoritarian regimes. Today, nearly 40 percent of the world's population lives under authoritarian form of government. Consequently, the study of non-democratic regimes is a major topic of study and research in the field of comparative politics. We will begin by comparing the main differences between democratic and non-democratic regimes We will then address a number of key questions: How do the authoritarian regimes come into existence? What are the characteristics of different types of authoritarian rule (military regimes, single-party regimes, monarchial authoritarianism, hybrid regimes and competitive authoritarianism)? What are the survival strategies used by the authoritarian leaders to stay in power? How do they respond to the challenges posed by the political opposition groups? What are the main domestic and international factors that can end authoritarian regimes and facilitate transition to democracy? |
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The students who have succeeded in this course; 1. Understand key concepts and theoretical approaches related to authoritarian regimes and democratic transitions. 2. Analyze different types of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, monarchical, and hybrid regimes. 3. Examine the survival strategies of authoritarian leaders, including political manipulation, repression, and controlled elections. 4. Assess the factors that contribute to the collapse of authoritarian regimes and the transition toward democracy. 5. Develop a comparative perspective on authoritarianism by evaluating historical and contemporary case studies from different regions. |
| This course examines the nature and dynamics of authoritarian regimes, exploring their origins, persistence, and potential transitions to democracy. The course begins by conceptualizing democracy and authoritarianism, providing theoretical frameworks for understanding different regime types. It then delves into the various forms of non-democratic governance, including military regimes, single-party rule, and monarchical authoritarianism. The discussion extends to hybrid regimes, such as competitive authoritarianism, which blend democratic and autocratic elements. A key focus is on the survival strategies employed by authoritarian regimes, including the manipulation of political opposition and electoral processes. The course also explores the mechanisms through which authoritarian regimes consolidate power and how they eventually transition—voluntarily or forcibly—toward more democratic systems. Through theoretical analysis and empirical case studies, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the resilience, adaptability, and vulnerabilities of authoritarian regimes in different historical and regional contexts. The teaching methods of the course include "Case Study Analysis, Discussion, Individual Study, Lecture, and Reading." |
| Week | Subject | Related Preparation | |
| 1) | Introduction | ||
| 2) | Conceptualizing Democracy and Authoritarianism | • Robert Dahl, On Democracy, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998, 35-61, 83-99. • Erica Frantz, Authoritarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know, New York: Oxford University Press, 2018, 1-14. | |
| 3) | Origins of Authoritarian Regimes | • Paul Brooker, Non-democratic Regimes: Theory, Government and Politics, New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000, 7-35. • Juan. J. Linz & Alfred Stepan, Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, 38-54 | |
| 4) | Military Regimes | • Barbara Geddes et.al, How Dictatorships Work, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2018, 44-57. • Ergun Özbudun, Contemporary Turkish Politics: Challenges to Democratic Consolidation, Boulder: 2000, 105-123. | |
| 5) | Single Party Regimes | • Eva Bellin, "The Robustness of Authoritarianism in the Middle East: Exceptionalism in Comparative Perspective," • K. Greene, "The Political Economy of Authoritarian Single-Party Dominance," Comparative Political Studies, Vol. 43. No. 7, 2010, 807-834. | |
| 6) | Monarchial Authoritarianism | • Lisa Anderson, "Absolutism and the Resilience of Monarchy in the Middle East," Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 106, No. 1, 1991, 1-15 • Sean v. Yorn and F. Gregory Gause Ill, "Resilient Royals: How Arab Monarchies Hang On," Journal of Democracy, Vol. 23, No. 4 2012, 74-88. | |
| 7) | Hybrid regimes: Competitive Authoritarianism | • Larry Diamond, "Thinking About Hybrid Regimes," Journal of Democracy, Vol. 13, No.2, 2002, 21-35. • Steven Levitsky and Lucian A. Way, "The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism," Journal of Democracy, Vol 13, No. 2 (2002), 51-65. | |
| 8) | Survival Strategies of Authoritarian Regimes | • Jennifer Gandhi and Adam. Przeworski, "Authoritarian Institutions and the Survival of the Autocrats," Comparative Politics, Vol.40, No.11, 2007, 1279-1301. • Ellen Lust-Okar, “The Management and Manipulation of Political Opposition”, Comparative Politics, 36: 2 (2004), 159-179. | |
| 9) | Midterm Exam | ||
| 10) | Survival Strategies of Authoritarian Regimes | • Jennifer Gandhi and Adam. Przeworski, "Authoritarian Institutions and the Survival of the Autocrats," Comparative Politics, Vol.40, No.11, 2007, 1279-1301. • Ellen Lust-Okar, “The Management and Manipulation of Political Opposition”, Comparative Politics, 36: 2 (2004), 159-179. | |
| 11) | Electoral Authoritarianism | • Andreas Schedler, "The Menu of Manipulation," Journal of Democracy, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2002, 36-50. • Jennifer Gandhi and Ellen Lust-Okar, "Elections Under Authoritarianism," Annual Review of Political Science, Vol. 12. No.1, 2009, 403-422. | |
| 12) | Transition from Authoritarian Rule | • Kendal Taylor and Erica Frantz, "How Autocrats Fall," Washington Quarterly, Vol.37, No. 1, 35-47. • Paul Brooker, Non-Democratic Regimes: Theory, Government and Politics, New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000, 206-224. | |
| 13) | Transition from Authoritarian Rule | • Kendal Taylor and Erica Frantz, "How Autocrats Fall," Washington Quarterly, Vol.37, No. 1, 35-47. • Paul Brooker, Non-Democratic Regimes: Theory, Government and Politics, New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000, 206-224. | |
| 14) | General Evaluation | ||
| Course Notes: | Haftalık ders okumaları ve derste kullanılan PowerPoint dosyaları ItsLearning’e yüklenir. Ders izlencesinde yer alan tüm kitap bölümleri ve makalelere BAU Kütüphanesi’nden de erişilebilir. ----------------- Weekly course readings and PowerPoint presentations used in class will be uploaded to ItsLearning. All book chapters and articles listed in the course syllabus are also accessible through the BAU Library. |
| References: |
| Semester Requirements | Number of Activities | Level of Contribution |
| Attendance | % 0 | |
| Laboratory | % 0 | |
| Application | % 0 | |
| Field Work | % 0 | |
| Special Course Internship (Work Placement) | % 0 | |
| Quizzes | % 0 | |
| Homework Assignments | % 0 | |
| Presentation | % 0 | |
| Project | % 0 | |
| Seminar | % 0 | |
| Midterms | 1 | % 40 |
| Preliminary Jury | % 0 | |
| Final | 1 | % 60 |
| Paper Submission | % 0 | |
| Jury | % 0 | |
| Bütünleme | % 0 | |
| Total | % 100 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK | % 40 | |
| PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK | % 60 | |
| Total | % 100 | |
| Activities | Number of Activities | Duration (Hours) | Workload |
| Course Hours | 13 | 3 | 39 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Application | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Special Course Internship (Work Placement) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Field Work | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Study Hours Out of Class | 14 | 8 | 112 |
| Presentations / Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Homework Assignments | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quizzes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Preliminary Jury | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midterms | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Paper Submission | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jury | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Workload | 153 | ||
| No Effect | 1 Lowest | 2 Low | 3 Average | 4 High | 5 Highest |
| Program Outcomes | Level of Contribution | |
| 1) | Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about the field and relations between them at the level of practice. | |
| 2) | Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies. | |
| 3) | Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences. | |
| 4) | Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments. | |
| 5) | Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy. | |
| 6) | Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member. | |
| 7) | Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development. | |
| 8) | Communicate with peers both orally and in writing, by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio B1 General Level and the necessary informatics and communication technologies. | |
| 9) | Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives. | |
| 10) | Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments. | |
| 11) | Possess competence to interpret the new political actors, theories and concepts in a global era. | |
| 12) | Evaluate the legal and ethical implications of advanced technologies on politics. |