Course Language:
English
Course Objectives:
This course intends to familiarize the participants with the issues and variables that are central to comparative political inquiry.
Course Content:
Political institutions will be discussed in the first part of the course. The second part of the course will concentrate on political culture and behaviour. Institutional and cultural prerequisites as well as consequences of democratization and welfare regimes will also be analyzed. A review of the literature, class discussions and case studies will be undertaken.
Teaching Methods:
1: Lecture, 2: Discussion based lecture, 3: Case study, 4:Small group work, 5: Seminar, 6: Group work, 7: Research paper, 8: Oral presentation/exam, 9: Survey, 10: Panel, 11: Guest speaker, 12: Activities within a Student Body or Research Project.
Assessment Methods:
A: Exam, B: Homework, C: Presentation, D: Discussion
Vertical Tabs
Course Learning Outcomes
| Learning Outcomes |
Program
Learning Outcomes |
Teaching Methods | Assessment Methods |
| The participants will be able to identify the variables and topics that are central to comparative political inquiry. | 4, 12 | 1, 2 | A, C, D |
| In this effort, the participants will review the literature with a view to understanding how the field evolved and developed. | 1, 4, 10, 12, 13 | 1, 2, 3, 8 | A, C, D |
| The participants will be able to illustrate how the correlations explored and patterns identified in the literature can be utilized in accounting for current political developments in different political systems. | 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14 | 2, 3 | D |
| The participants of the course will acquire the skills required to generate hypotheses and propose ways in which they may be tested. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 2, 8 | D |
| Through various case studies, the course will enable the participants to argue for or against the variety of models advanced in comparing political systems. | 1, 4, 9, 13 | 2, 3, 8 | A, C, D |
| The participants will be able to infer from the patterns and models studied, how the discipline will evolve with regards to the list of variables and countries/regions to be focused on. | 1, 4, 6, 9 | 1, 2 | A |
Course Flow
| COURSE CONTENT | ||
| Week | Topics | Study Materials |
| 1 | Introduction- The objectives and organization of the course | |
| 2 | Political institutions: the significance of studying political institutions in comparative political analysis | Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., Chapters 7 and 13; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapter 7 |
| 3 | Constitutions: functions, making and amending constitutions | Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapters 11 and 12 |
| 4 | Legislatures, executives and judiciaries: functions | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 29; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapters 18, 23 and 24 |
| 5 | Legislatures, executives and judiciaries: debates on how the institutions relate to each other | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 30; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapter 26 |
| 6 | Election systems: classification and consequences | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 28; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapter 29 |
| 7 | Political parties: functions and organization | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapters 23, 24 and 25 |
| 8 | Political party systems: the evolution and development of party systems | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapters 21 and 22; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapter 28 |
| 9 | Administrative organization of states: classification and consequences | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 31; Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., Chapter 22; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapters 14, 15 and 25 |
| 10 | Politics, society and culture: defining the concept of political culture | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapters 13 and 15; Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., Chapters 6 and 16; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapter 8 |
| 11 | Political participation and behaviour: causes and consequences | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapters 17, 19, 20, 26 and 27; Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., Chapters 14, 17 and 18 |
| 12 | Democratization studies: the debate on the prerequisites | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 14; Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., Chapter 15 |
| 13 | Democratization studies: the debate on the consequences | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 16; Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., Chapters 20, 23 and 27 |
| 14 | Welfare regimes: classification and evolution | Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., Chapter 35; Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., Chapter 20 |
| 15 | Conclusion - review of the topics covered | |
Recommended Sources
| RECOMMENDED SOURCES | |
| Textbook |
Boix, C. and Stokes, S.C., eds., The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).
Landman, T. and Robinson, N., eds., The Sage Handbook of Comparative Politics (Los Angeles: Sage, 2009). Rhodes, R.A.W., Binder, S.A. and Rockman, B.A., eds., The Oxford Handbook of Political Institutions (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008). |
| Additional Resources |
Norris, P., Democratic Phoenix: Reinventing Political Activism, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002).
Sartori, G., Comparative Constitutional Engineering: An Inquiry into Structure, Incentives and Outcomes, (New York: NYU Press, 1997). |
Material Sharing
| MATERIAL SHARING | |
| Documents | Recommended and additional sources |
| Assignments | Presentation on the required readings of the week |
| Exams | Final examination (based on lectures, class discussions and recommended sources) |
Assessment
| ASSESSMENT | ||
| IN-TERM STUDIES | NUMBER | PERCENTAGE |
| Participation in class discussions | - | 30 |
| Presentation on the required readings of the week | 1 | 30 |
| Total | 60 | |
| CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE | 1 | 40 |
| CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE | - | 60 |
| Total | 100 | |
Course’s Contribution to Program
| COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM | |||||||
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| 1 |
The ability to analyze and critically evaluate basic research models, approaches and intellectual traditions in the field of political science, international relations, comparative politics, Turkish politics and foreign policy. To demonstrate the ability to create innovative and original contribution to the field by specializing and expanding on these models and approaches.
|
X | |||||
| 2 | To demonstrate the ability to make original contributions to the field with an interdisciplinary approach. | X | |||||
| 3 | A command of basic research models and approaches of political science and international relations discipline and the ability to apply them in academic research and project design. | X | |||||
| 4 | Having the ability to compare, contrast and analyze societal and political systems with an interdisciplinary approach. | X | |||||
| 5 | Having a command of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods and abiding by the highest levels of academic and research ethics. | X | |||||
| 6 | The ability to contribute to the progress of the field of political science and international relations by conducting original and independent studies that produce original thought, methods, models, and applications to the field and/or utilize existing ideas, methods, models, and applications in another field of study. | X | |||||
| 7 | The ability to contribute to the progress of the field of political science and international relations by publishing at least one academic article at a refereed journal and/or by producing or interpreting an original contribution. | X | |||||
| 8 | To develop current and advanced level of data into original thought and research as a specialist. The ability to develop original ideas and methods in the field of political science and international relations. | X | |||||
| 9 | The ability to debate and make presentations within an intellectual framework, and the ability to express oneself in a professional and academic manner. The ability to apply academic writing and presentation methods to dissertations, articles, and project design. | X | |||||
| 10 | Having advanced reading, writing, comprehension and speaking skills in the English language. | X | |||||
| 11 | Having the ability to apply knowledge of political science and international relations discipline to information technologies and traditional tools so as to produce sound solutions to problems. | X | |||||
| 12 | Having the competency to work in the public sector, NGOs, research institutions and the academia. | X | |||||
| 13 | Having empathy towards diverse and differing communities, which will facilitate conducing teamwork at local as well as global platforms. | X | |||||
| 14 | Having competency of comprehending and interpreting local and global issues through information exchange with international academics and students. | X | |||||
ECTS
| ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION | |||
| Activities | Quantity |
Duration (Hour) |
Total Workload (Hour) |
| Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 16 | 12 | 192 |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Final examination | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Total Work Load | 265 | ||
| Total Work Load / 25 (h) | 10.6 | ||
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 11 | ||