MGIMO University

School of Government and International Affairs

Syllabus approved
Dean, The MGIMO School of Government and International Affairs
Mikhail Troitskiy
« » 2018

Comparative Politics
Undergraduate Course Syllabus

Instructors
Associate Prof. Oxana G. Kharitonova, Assistant Prof. Anna V. Veretevskaya
© O.G. Kharitonova, A.V. Veretevskaya, 2018
© MGIMO University, 2018
This syllabus is designed in accordance with the MGIMO Educational Standard for the
Bachelor Program in International Affairs.

Author_________________________________ Associate Prof. O.G. Kharitonova

Author________________________________ Assistant Prof. A.V. Veretevskaya

Director MGIMO Library_____________________________M.V. Reshetnikova

 PART 1:
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION, COURSE DESCRIPTION
AND TEACHING METHODS

1.1 General information

• Full course title: Comparative politics
• Type of course: elective
• Level of course B.A.
• Year of study: 3
• Number of ECTS credits allocated: 2
• Name of lecturer(s) and office hours:
Dr. O.G. Kharitonova, Associate Professor, Department of comparative politics
Dr. A.V. Veretevskaya, Assistant Professor, Department of comparative politics

Department of comparative politics

+7 (495) 433 34 95
Mail: politology@mgimo.ru

1.2 Course aims and learning outcomes

The course is designed as an introduction to the concepts underlying modern approaches to the study of
politics. The introduction of comparative politics, a field that involves cross-national analysis and area
studies of domestic politics in different countries. The course is taught in units of political actors,
political phenomena and specific theoretical problems. The theme-based composition of the course will
familiarize the students with the main theoretical frameworks in contemporary Comparative Politics,
i.e. the structuralist approach, the culturalist approach, the institutionalist approach and the agency-
based approach.

Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course students should be able to:
• understand the basic methods in comparative politics;
• define the components of a political system and discuss the ways domestic and international
environments can affect it
• apply major theories and concepts of comparative politics to current events and specific cases,
• critically interpret political events and political trends;
• assess structural, cultural and institutional factors determining political outcomes;
• understand the essence of institutional arrangements;
• compare political institutions, political culture and political participation across nations;
• have enhanced understanding of the political processes and political trends in different regions
of the world
• make comparisons

1.3 Course requirements and grading plan

Course requirements
Students will be required to attend not less than 90% of classes and be prepared for class discussions.
Reading of the assigned materials and active engagement in class discussions is compulsory.

Grading plan
• Class participation – 20%

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 Students are expected to attend all the lectures seminars and participate in class discussions;
since the course is highly interactive, it is essential that students attend the seminars having read
the materials for that day’s class.
• In-class tests – 40%
Students will write three tests during the semester. Dates of test classes are defined by the
instructor and communicated to the students at the first class of the respective course.
• In-class issue presentation – 40%.
Such a presentation (up to 15 minutes) is performed by each student at least once in the term.
The presentation will be based on the week’s additional readings and discussion topics. The
presenter should supply a brief summary of the argument but offer a critical interpretation of the
reading by drawing out the key ideas of the text, linking them with others already covered, and
registering agreements and disagreements. The presenter should also attempt to consider how
the given argument could be framed differently. A few critical questions should further be
offered for the class to discuss collectively.

PART 2. COURSE CONTENT

2.1 Types of work

Types of work Academic hours

Total 72
Total for classwork 34
Lectures 16
Seminars 18
Homework 38
Preparation for lectures, seminars, written or oral tests
Homework, tests, activity at seminars,
Course assessment

2.2 Course outline

Section and topic Full-time course

Academic hours taken (or credits)

Lectures Seminars Homework Total hours
for topic
1. Issues and methods in comparative 2 2 6 10
politics: An introduction

2. Political system and political culture: 2 4 6 12

system, process and policy

3. Politics in the UK and the US 2 2 6 10

4
4. Politics in Europe: Germany and France 2 2 4 8

5. Political developments in Latin America 2 2 4 8

6. Postcolonial Africa. Politics in Nigeria 2 2 4 8

7. Political developments in the Middle 2 2 4 8

East and North Africa. Politics in Iran.

8. Political development in China and India 2 2 4 8

.

TOTAL 16 18 38 72

2.3 Course content and readings by topic

Schedule and Assignments

Topic 1. Issues and methods in comparative politics: An introduction.
Topic 2. Political system and political culture: system, process and policy.
Topic 3. Politics in the UK and the US.
Topic 4. Politics in Europe: Germany and France.
Topic 5. Politics in Latin America. Brazil and Mexico.
Topic 6. Postcolonial Africa. Politics in Nigeria.
Topic 7. Political developments in the Middle East. Politics in Iran.
Topic 8. Political development in China and India

Topic 1. Issues and methods in comparative politics: An Introduction (1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 1. Comparative politics. Introduction

Introduction to the course. Course format. Goals, objectives and assessment. Course content: outline of
main topics.
The development of comparative politics as a subdiscipline of political science. Three periods of
comparative research. Main paradigms of comparative politics. Big issues in comparative politics:
political regimes, political systems, political cultures, political institutions and political change.
The reasons for comparison. The methods of comparison. Cases, observations and variables.
Quantitative and qualitative research. Types of comparative studies. Problems of comparison (too many
variables and too few countries, selection bias, equivalence, spuriousness, ecological and individualist
fallacies, value bias etc.). Case selection and research design (most similar and most different research
designs). Limitations of comparative analysis.

Seminar 1. Methods and problems of comparative research

5
Themes for discussion:
1. Why do we compare countries?
2. How do we compare countries? What is research design? Problems of operationalization.
3. What are the main problems of comparison? How are they solved in practice?
4. Types of comparative research and their limitations/
5. What are the ‘big issues’ in comparative politics? How they were addressed at each of the three
periods of comparative research.
6. Real world research. World values survey. Research design and problems of comparison.

Compulsory readings for topic 1:

• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 1. Governance in the era of globalization.
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter2. Comparative political systems.

Further readings for topic 1:

• Landman T. How to compare countries / Issues and methods in comparative politics. Routledge,
2008. 3 edition. Chapter 2. P.23-45.

Internet resources:
• World values survey. http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/
• Polity IV project. http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm

Topic 2. Political system and political culture: system, process and policy (1 lecture and 1
seminar)

Lecture 2. System, process and policy in comparative studies

Political systems theories. G.Almond and J,Powell model. Structural-functional approach.
Political system structures: Political parties, Interest groups, Legislatures, Executives, Bureaucracies,
Courts.
Process functions: Interest articulation, Interest aggregation, Policymaking, Policy implementation,
Policy adjudication
System functions: Political socialization, Political recruitment, Political communication.
Policy level: performance, outcome and evaluation.
Political culture. Mapping the three levels of political culture. The system level. The process level. The
policy level.

Seminar 2. Political system and political culture.

Themes for discussion:

1. Define the components of a political system and discuss the ways domestic and
international environments can affect it.
2. Describe the three levels of political culture and the factors that make them different.
3. How cultural norms and political institutions are interrelated?

Compulsory readings for topic 2:

6
 • Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 2. Comparing Political Systems.
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 3. Political culture.

Further readings for topic 2:

• Boix C., S.Stokes, eds. Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2009.

Internet resources:
• World Values Survey. http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/
• Polity IV project. http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm

Topic 3. Politics in the UK and the US (1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 3. Westminster model versus American model

Arend Lijphart’s majoritarian model. British trajectory. Changes in the British politics. The
government structure and major institutional reforms.
US political system. Origins of the separation of powers.
Comparison of British and American systems. Written versus unwritten constitutions. Federal
versus unitary systems. Devolution in the UK. Presidentialism and parliamentarianism. American
Congress and British parliament. FPTP system and its consequences. Party systems and party
platforms. Main issues in British and American politics. Political culture and decline in political
participation. Interest groups and their role in shaping politics.

Seminar 3. UK and US in the comparative perspective

Themes for discussion:

1. Main features of Westminster model. Perspectives for reforms.
2. The American Constitution and its origins.
3. The domestic policies and main policy twists in the UK and the US in the 20th century.
4. Presidential vs. parliamentary systems. Perils and advantages.
5. Devolution and its follow-ups.

Compulsory readings for topic 3:

• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 8. Politics in Britain.
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 19. Politics in USA.

Further readings for topic 3:

• Dahl R. How democratic is the American Constitution. New Haven, L.: Yale University Press,
2001.
• Leach R., B. Coxall, L. Robins. British Politics. N.Y. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
• Lijphart A. Patterns of Democracy. Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six
Countries. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. – Рp. 9-47.

7
Internet resources:
• Democratic party: http://www.democrats.org
• House of representatives: http://www.house.gov
• House of Commons Chamber http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-
office/HoC-Chamber.pdf
• House of Commons. Making Laws. Brief Guide.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/Brief-Guides/Making-
Laws.pdf
• Lords Library note: House of Lords Reform Since 1997 to 2010. A Chronology.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-library/hllreformchronology.pdf
• Parliament – www.parliament.uk
• Prime Minister – www.Number10.gov.uk
• Republican party: http://www.rnc.org
• Senate: http://www.senate.gov
• White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Topic 4. Politics in Europe. Germany and France (1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 4. Germany and France in comparative perspective.

European political systems and political trajectories. Waves of democratization in Europe.

Politics in Germany. Historical legacy. Following two paths. The institutions and structures of
government. The party system. Political parties. Party government. Political culture. Elections 2017.
Current policy challenges.

Politics in France. A historical perspective. The constitutional tradition. Semi-presidentialism in

France. Dual executive in the French fifth republic, Electoral system and party system. 2017 elections
and follow-up. French political culture.

Seminar 4. A comparative study of the German and the French political systems.
Themes for discussion:
1. Identify five policy challenges currently faced by the French (German) government
2. Compare and contrast the French system and the German system.
3. Explain the factors that strengthen the role of political parties in the German system and
name the benefits and limitations of having many parties represented in the Bundestag.
4. Explain France’s party system and the factors that have prevented emergence of a two-
party system, with examples from recent French history.
5. What cultural characteristics contribute to the French (German) style of government?

Compulsory readings:
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 9. Politics in France
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 10. Politics in Germany.

Further readings:

8
 • Ambler J. (ed). The welfare state in France. New York: New York University Press, 1991.
• Less Ch. Party Politics in Germany: A Comparative Politics Approach. London: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2005.
• Perrineau P., L.Rouban. Politics in France and Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Internet resources:
• French President’s official web site: www.elysee.fr
• National Assembly and other legislative institutions of France: www.assamblee-nat.fr
• German government: www.bundesregierung.de
• German legislative branch: www.budestag.de

Topic 5. Politics in Latin America. Brazil and Mexico. (1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 5. Political developments in Latin America.

Political regimes in Latin America. Military Coups. Military Regimes in Latin America. Cycles of
Electoral Democracy in Latin America: Transitions and Continuities. Democratization in Latin
America. Third wave models: transformations, replacements, transplacements. Democratic
consolidation. Patterns of Civil-Military Relations in Latin America.
Neoliberal policy. Left turn in Latin America. Varieties of the left turn,
Institutional Alternatives. Varieties of Presidentialism. Powers of Latin American Presidents.
Party Systems in Latin America. Electoral Volatility in Latin America. Ideological Blocs and Voting
Realignments.
Political culture. Levels of Confidence in Political Parties. Voter Turnout. Political Attitudes and Social
Class. Levels of Trust in Institutions. Political Orientations in Latin America.
State Capacity and Policy Performance. Freedoms, Rights, and Illiberal Democracy.
Trajectories of Brazil and Mexico.

Seminar 5. Mexico and Brazil in comparative perspective

Themes for discussion:

1. Authoritarianism in Mexico and Brazil. One-party versus military political regimes. Their
origin, features and consequences.
2. Political regimes and transformations in Mexico and Brazil. Cyclical model of democratization.
Mexico and Brazil in the 3rd wave of democratization.
3. Institutions and structures of government. Problems of combining presidentialism and PR.
4. Political parties and elections in Mexico and Brazil.
5. Political culture in Mexico and Brazil.

Compulsory readings for topic 5:

• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 15. Politics in Brazil.
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 14. Politics in Mexico.

Further readings for topic 5:

• Huntington S. P. The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. Norman:
University of Oklahoma Press, 1991

9
 • Linz J.J. and Stepan A. Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. Southern
Europe, South America and Post-Communist Europe. Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1996.
• O'Donnell G.A. Modernization and Bureaucratic-Authoritarianism: Studies in South American
Politics. Berkeley: Institute of International Studies, 1973.
• Smith P.H. Democracy in Latin America: political change in comparative perspective. N.Y.
Oxford University Press, 2005.

Internet resources:
• Freedom House. www.freedomhouse.org
• Global Democracy Ranking. http://democracyranking.org/
• IDEA: http:// www.idea.int
• IFES Election Guide. www.electionguide.org/
• Latinobarometro. – http://www.latinobarometro.org/latino/latinobarometro.jsp
• Polity IV Project. http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm

Topic 6. Postcolonial Africa. Politics in Nigeria ( 1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 6. Political systems of African countries since 1960s. Nigeria case.

Colonialism and its legacies. Cycles of regime change and democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Nigeria as a megastate in the African context. The effects of history. Political liberalization and
democratization in the 1990s.
Political institutions. Federalism and presidentialism. Parties and elections.
Political culture and subcultures.
Current structural challenges. Nigeria in Africa and in the world.

Seminar 6. Politics in Nigeria.

Themes for discussion:

1. Discuss the contribution of colonial, environmental, and global factors to current
conditions in Nigeria
2. Explain the evolution of Nigeria’s political structure and discuss national versus federal
powers.
3. List the types of subcultures that exist in Nigeria, and discuss how they affect the
political culture

Compulsory readings:
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 18. Politics in Nigeria.

Further readings:
• Balogun, M. J. The Route to Power in Nigeria. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
• Diamond L., Anthony Kirk-Greene, and O. Oyediran, eds. Transition without End: Nigerian
Politics and Civil Society under Babangida. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 1997.
• Obadare E., W. Adebanwi (eds.). Encountering the Nigerian state. New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2010.

Internet resources:

10
 • Federal government’s website: www.nigeria.gov.ng
• Centre for democracy and development: www.cddwestafrica.org
• NEPAD: www.nepad.org
• African Union: http://www.africa-union.org

Topic 7. Political developments in the Middle East. Politics in Iran. (1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 7. Politics in the modern Middle East

The making of the modern Middle East. The political economy of development in the Middle East.
Institutions and governance, States. Regime types. Key institutions.
Authoritarian persistence in the Arab world. The international context. Political culture and society.
Agents of democratization and democratic failure.
Institutional challenges. Social change. Islamist social movements and parties.
Prospects of Democratization in the Arab world. Arab spring: factors and consequences.
Politics in Iran. Historical legacies. Modernization in Iran. 1979 revolution. Causes and consequences
of the Islamic revolution. Institutions of the Islamic republic. The interplay of political and religious
leadership in Iran. Dual executive: Supreme Leader and president. Appointment versus elections,
Parliament versus the Council of guardians. Elections and parties. Political elite recruitment.
Presidential 2017 elections. Political culture.

Seminar 7. Politics in Iran

Themes for discussion:

1. Describe and distinguish between appointed and elected offices in Iran.
2. Discuss political parties versus factions as they affect Iranian elections.
3. Identify five key features of Iran’s political culture.

Compulsory readings for topic 7:

• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 16. Politics in Iran.

Further readings for topic 7:

• Diamond L. Why There Are No Arab Democracies? Journal of Democracy. 2010. Vol.21, No
1. P.93-112.
• Karpat K.H. The Politicization of Islam. N.Y.: Oxford, 2001. P.276-373.

Internet resources:
• Islamic Republic of Iran Constitution. http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-
info/government/constitution.html
• Human Development Reports. United Nations Development Programme.
http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/hdi
• Polity IV project. http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm
• World Development Indicators / The World Bank. http://data.worldbank.org/data-
catalog/world-development-indicators
• World Values Survey Database. http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp

Topic 8. Political development in China and India. (1 lecture, 1 seminar)

Lecture 8. Political development in China and India.

11
Politics in China. Three main periods of China’s political history, from 1949 through the present.
Structure of the communist party-state. The nomenklatura system. Elite recruitment. Political reforms.
Current policy challenges. Political culture and participation. Politics in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Politics in India. India’s history. The ‘givens’ of Indian society. Political institutions and policy
process. The federal structure. The party system and its evolution. Consociational elements in Indian
majoritarian democracy. Conflation of democracy and development. Political culture. Religions and
castes.

Seminar 8. Politics in China and India.

Themes for discussion:

1. Describe the structures of the Chinese party-state, providing details on party makeup and elite
recruitment.
2. Examine China’s political culture in the light of its historical roots.
3. Compare and contrast the Indian political system with those of the United States and Britain.
4. List Morris-Jones’ three idioms of Indian politics, and discuss their interplay in the political culture.

Compulsory readings for topic 8:

• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 13. Politics in China.
• Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015. Chapter 17. Politics in India.

Further readings for topic 8:

• Brown J. India: The Origin of an Asian Democracy. Delhi Oxford University Press, 1985.
• Gries P.H., S.Rosen. Chinese politics: state, society and the market. London: Routledge, 2010.
• Kohli A. The Success of India’s Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
• Lieberthal K. Governing China: From Revolution through Reform, 2nd ed. New York: Norton,
2004.

Internet resources:
• World Values Survey. http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/
• Polity IV project. http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm

2.4. Essay topics

Topic 1. Issues and methods in comparative politics: An introduction

• Choose any article in comparative politics. Asses the methodology of the research. Has the
author managed to solve all methodological problems and to what extent?

Topic 2. Structural-functional approach

• The advantages of the structural-functional approach in comparative politics
• The disadvantages of the structural-functional approach in comparative politics.

Topic 3. Politics in the UK and the US

• Westminster and Washminster models of democracy. Which one is best for democracy?

12
 • The reasons for the declining social capital in the old democracies and what can be done about
it?

Topic 4. Politics in Germany and France

• What type of political system is best suited for new democracies? The French one or the
German?
• Did de Gaulle help or hinder democracy in France during his time as president

Topic 5. Politics in Mexico and Brazil

• The causes of the left turn in Latin America and how left is really the left turn?
• The perils of presidentialism in Latin America. Is it different from the presidentialism in the
US?

Topic 6. Politics in Nigeria

• How factors such as oil and ethnic diversity impact politics in Nigeria.
• Compare and contrast the political systems of India and Nigeria.

Topic 7. Politics in the modern Middle East

• The Arab spring is (or is not) the fourth wave of democratization.
• Why are there no Arab democracies in the modern world?
• Explain the principle of velayat-e faqih and discuss its pervasive influence in Iran?
• Describe how the mechanisms for creating national unity in Iran also contain elements of
dissent

Topic 8. Politics in China and India

• Contrast China’s “rule by law” with democratic “rule of law.”
• Why has the Indian political system succeeded in holding together a country of continental
dimensions, marked by extreme diversity of language, religion, class, and levels of regional
development?
• Why India is often called consociational democracy?

2.5. Test Questions. Multiple choice questions and open questions.

2.5.1.Multiple choice questions (tentative questions)

Topic 1. Comparative politics

The idea of comparing political systems
A. is a relatively new idea.
B. is a traditional practice.
C. was introduced between the First and Second World Wars.
D. is economically based

Topic 2. Political system and political culture

Political culture refers to
A. stable habits and traditions.
B. citizens’ orientations toward the political system.
C. social and cultural patterns of behavior.
D. levels of political participation.

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Topic 3. Politics in the UK and the US
The United States Constitution
A. is one of the newest.
B. is the oldest still in effect.
C. was written at the same time as the English Constitution.
D. is contemporary with many other European country constitutions

Topic 4. Politics in Germany and France

During World War II, the resistance in France was organized under the leadership of
A. Napoleon.
B. the Vichy government
C. Charles de Gaulle.
D. Jacques Chirac

Topic 5. Politics in Mexico and Brazil

Under President Salinas and his successors, the government has implemented
A. a Marxist economic system.
B. a socialist economic system.
C. a macroeconomic system that is severely controlled.
D. a neoliberal economic development model.

Topic 6. Politics in Nigeria

Which groups have the most influence on the Nigerian state?
A. associational groups
B. non-associational groups
C. religious and ethnic groups
D. institutional groups

Topic 7. Politics in Iran

Which of the following describes the relationship between shari’a law and state laws in Iran?
A. The state’s laws are totally separate from the shari’a law.
B. The shari’a law is unknowable to man, and therefore impossible to apply to the state’s laws.
C. The state’s laws are grounded in the shari’a law.
D. The state’s laws are considered to be heretical according to shari’a law.

Topic 8, Politics in India and China

Satyagraha refers to
A. revolution.
B. nonviolent resistance.
C. Mahatma Gandhi’s political party.
D. the Salt March.

2.5.2. Open questions

Topic 1. Issues and methods in comparative politics: An introduction
• Methods of comparison and types of comparative research
• Problems of comparison and how they can be solved

Topic 2. Political system and political culture.

• Political system theories

14
 • Political system and political process
• Political culture and the study of political systems

Topic 3. Politics in the UK and the US

• Political institutions in Great Britain
• Political institutions in the USA
• Political culture and participation in Great Britain and in the USA
• UK and US in the Lijphart’s patterns of democracy.

Topic 4. Politics in Germany and France

• Political system of Germany
• Political culture and political participation in Germany
• Political institutions in France
• Political parties and political ideologies in France

Topic 5. Latin American politics. Brazil and Mexico.

• Cycles of political change in Latin America
• Political institutions in Brazil
• Political institutions in Mexico
• Democratization in Latin America.
• Political culture in Latin America

Topic 6. Politics in Nigeria

• Political developments in postcolonial Africa
• Political institutions in Nigeria.
• Political culture and political tradition inNigeria.

Topic 7. Politics in the modern Middle East

• Political developments in the modern Middle East
• Political institutions in Iran.
• Prospects for democratization in Iran
• Arab spring: factors and consequences

Topic 8. Politics in India and China

• Political institutions of Сhina
• Political culture of China
• Political institutions of India
• Political culture of India.

2.4 Exam timing

• Three tests during semester
• Final text/exam - end of semester

2.6 Consolidated reading list (in alphabetic order)

Textbooks
1. Powell J., R.Dalton, K.W.Strøm. Comparative politics today. A world view. 11th edition.
Boston: Pearson education ltd., 2015.
15
 Further Readings

1. Ambler J. (ed). The welfare state in France. New York: New York University Press, 1991.
2. Balogun M. J. The Route to Power in Nigeria. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
3. Boix C., S.Stokes, eds. Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2009.
4. Brown J. India: The Origin of an Asian Democracy. Delhi Oxford University Press, 1985.
5. Dahl R. How democratic is the American Constitution. New Haven, L.: Yale University Press,
2001.
6. Diamond L. Why There Are No Arab Democracies? Journal of Democracy. 2010. Vol.21, No 1.
P.93-112.
7. Diamond L., Anthony Kirk-Greene, and O. Oyediran, eds. Transition without End: Nigerian
Politics and Civil Society under Babangida. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 1997.
8. Gries P.H., S.Rosen. Chinese politics: state, society and the market. London: Routledge, 2010.
9. Huntington S. P. The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. Norman:
University of Oklahoma Press, 1991
10. Karpat K.H. The Politicization of Islam. N.Y.: Oxford, 2001. P.276-373.
11. Kohli A. The Success of India’s Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
12. Landman T. How to compare countries / Issues and methods in comparative politics. Routledge,
2008. 3 edition.
13. Leach R., B. Coxall, L. Robins. British Politics. N.Y. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
14. Less Ch. Party Politics in Germany: A Comparative Politics Approach. London: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2005.
15. Lieberthal K. Governing China: From Revolution through Reform, 2nd ed. New York: Norton,
2004.
16. Lijphart A. Patterns of Democracy. Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six
Countries. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. – Рp. 9-47.
17. Linz J.J. and Stepan A. Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. Southern
Europe, South America and Post-Communist Europe. Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1996.
18. Obadare E., W. Adebanwi (eds.). Encountering the Nigerian state. New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2010.
19. O'Donnell G. A. Modernization and Bureaucratic-Authoritarianism: Studies in South American
Politics. Berkeley: Institute of International Studies, 1973.
20. Perrineau P., L.Rouban. Politics in France and Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
21. Smith P.H. Democracy in Latin America: political change in comparative perspective. N.Y.
Oxford University Press, 2005.

Internet resources:

• World values survey. http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/

• Polity IV project. http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/polity4.htm
• Democratic party: http://www.democrats.org
• House of representatives: http://www.house.gov
• House of Commons Chamber http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-
office/HoC-Chamber.pdf
• House of Commons. Making Laws. Brief Guide.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/Brief-Guides/Making-Laws.pdf

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1. African Union: http://www.africa-union.org
2. Centre for democracy and development: www.cddwestafrica.org
3. Federal government’s website: www.nigeria.gov.ng
4. Freedom House. www.freedomhouse.org
5. French President’s official web site: www.elysee.fr
6. German government: www.bundesregierung.de
7. German legislative branch: www.budestag.de
8. Global Democracy Ranking. http://democracyranking.org/
9. Human Development Reports. United Nations Development Programme.
http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/hdi
10. IDEA: http:// www.idea.int
11. IFES Election Guide. www.electionguide.org/
12. Islamic Republic of Iran Constitution. http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-
info/government/constitution.html
13. Latinobarometro. http://www.latinobarometro.org/latino/latinobarometro.jsp
14. Lords Library note: House of Lords Reform Since 1997 to 2010. A Chronology.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-library/hllreformchronology.pdf
15. National Assembly and other legislative institutions of France: www.assamblee-nat.fr
16. NEPAD: www.nepad.org
17. Parliament – www.parliament.uk
18. Prime Minister – www.Number10.gov.uk
19. Republican party: http://www.rnc.org
20. Senate: http://www.senate.gov
21. White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
22. World Development Indicators / The World Bank. http://data.worldbank.org/data-
catalog/world-development-indicators

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 PART 3. FINAL REMARKS

• Plagiarism is considered as a severe violation and as an indication of incompetence in the

course. Plagiarism is understood as making of one’s text using compilation method for other
people’s publications, even connected with own phrases and sentences. Collective performance
of individual tasks is also unacceptable. Proved plagiarism an F-mark is given regardless of the
fulfillment of all other requirements.
• Assignments are to be handed in on the due date. Late submissions will translate into the
lowering of the grade by 1/3 of a grade for each day of delay.
• Students are asked to keep a copy of all work submitted for evaluation.

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