| 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 |
| POL2352 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | Spring | 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: | Must Course |
| Course Level: | Bachelor |
| Mode of Delivery: | Hybrid |
| Course Coordinator : | Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU |
| Course Lecturer(s): |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi YÜKSEL ALPER ECEVİT Dr. Öğr. Üyesi ARDA CAN KUMBARACIBAŞI |
| Course Objectives: | This course provides the analytical knowledge and practical skills to understand comparative politics worldwide. It addresses a wide range of policy-relevant issues: What are the key features of democracies and autocracies, and how can regimes best be classified? How can backsliding on human rights be prevented in states? What are the challenges for building stable and peaceful multi-ethnic states and democratic governance? What fuels populism in democracies? What is the appropriate constitutional balance of powers between the president and the legislature? How does governance shape the delivery of economic and welfare policies in developing societies? The course covers these questions and many others by utilizing the methods and techniques of comparative politics. You will learn about states and regimes worldwide – as well as deepening your understanding of your own society. The orientation is problem and reform focused. The course analyzes (i) the nature of comparative politics (ii) processes of state formation and the classification of regimes types, (iii) the structure of political institutions, (iv) the role of political actors, and (v) processes of governance performance. It reviews the leading research literature to understand the theoretical concepts and empirical literature on each topic. Some hands-on class discussions will develop practical skills and familiarity with essential online resources. The course will provide invaluable skills and knowledge for anyone seeking to develop familiarity with the major issues in comparative politics and the practical skills in analyzing countries around the globe. In the age of globalization, cross-national insights into politics are invaluable for a wide range of potential careers, whether working for international agencies, multilateral organizations, non-profit NGOs, international corporations, or national governments. |
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The students who have succeeded in this course; The students who have succeeded in this course; 1. Grasp the basic concepts of Comparative Politics. 2. Examine how political regimes vary from liberal to illiberal – electoral democracies to authoritarian and totalitarian systems. 3. Compare the governmental systems of major industrial and post – industrial societies and of the major countries of the less developed world. 4. Identify strengths and weaknesses of parliamentary and presidential systems of government on the basis of concrete cases 5. Identify strengths and weaknesses of centralized, devolved and federal state systems on the basis of concrete cases. 6. Identify strengths and weaknesses of majority, proportional representation and mixed election systems on the basis of concrete cases. 7. Recognize how political cultures affect political regimes. 8. Evaluate recent trends in world politics. |
| • Elections • Electoral Systems • Political Actors • Political Parties • Party Systems • Subnational Government • Political Groups, Civil Society • Case Studies |
| Week | Subject | Related Preparation | |
| 1) | Introduction to the Course | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.1 | |
| 2) | Governance, The State, Legitimacy, Authority, and Power | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.2 | |
| 3) | Democratic and Non-Democratic Regimes | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.3 | |
| 4) | Approaches, Methods, Theories | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.4 | |
| 5) | Legislatures and Constitutions | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.5 | |
| 6) | Executives and Bureaucracies | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.6 | |
| 7) | Midterm | ||
| 8) | Political Culture | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.7 | |
| 9) | Political Participation and Protest Politics | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.8 | |
| 10) | Media and Interest Groups | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.9 | |
| 11) | Representation, Voters and Elections | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.10 | |
| 12) | Electoral Systems | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.11 | |
| 13) | Political Parties | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.12 | |
| 14) | Party Systems | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Ch.13 | |
| Course Notes: | Rod Hague, Martin Harrop, John McCormick “Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction” 10th Edition, 2016, Palgrave Macmillan Michael G. Roskin, Countries and Concepts: Politics, Geography, Culture, 11th edition, New York: Pearson, 2011. Mark Kesselman, et.al. (eds). Introduction to Comparative Politics, 3rd Edition, Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Chapter on Turkey. Gabriel A. Almond, et. al. (eds.). Comparative Politics Today: A World View, Updated 9th Edition, New York: Pearson, 2010. Chapters on USA and Brazil. Heywood, Paul. 1995. The Government and Politics of Spain, Chaps. 4, pp. 83 - 103, Chaps 7 & 8, pp. 142 – 189. |
| References: | Articles in Course Package and additional reading will be TBA during term. |
| 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 | Workload | |
| Course Hours | 14 | 40 | |
| Laboratory | |||
| Application | |||
| Special Course Internship (Work Placement) | |||
| Field Work | |||
| Study Hours Out of Class | 14 | 106 | |
| Presentations / Seminar | |||
| Project | |||
| Homework Assignments | |||
| Quizzes | |||
| Preliminary Jury | |||
| Midterms | 1 | 2 | |
| Paper Submission | |||
| Jury | |||
| Final | 1 | 2 | |
| Total Workload | 150 | ||
| 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. | 4 |
| 2) | Possess basic knowledge about the causes and effects of political transformations in societies. | 4 |
| 3) | Possess knowledge about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods in social and behavioral sciences. | 4 |
| 4) | Recognize historical patterns while evaluating contemporary political and social developments. | 4 |
| 5) | Demonstrate interdisciplinary and critical approach while analyzing, synthesizing and forecasting domestic and foreign policy. | 4 |
| 6) | Conduct studies in the field professionally, both independently or as a team member. | 4 |
| 7) | Possess consciousness about lifelong learning based on Research & Development. | 4 |
| 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. | 4 |
| 9) | Apply field-related knowledge and competences into career advancement, projects for sustainable development goals, and social responsibility initiatives. | 4 |
| 10) | Possess the habit to monitor domestic and foreign policy agenda as well as international developments. | 4 |
| 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. |