POLITICAL SCIENCE 130
--Introduction to Comparative Politics—
Section 01: 9-9:50 MWF, WCH 233
Section 02: 11-11:50 WH 124
Section 03, 2-2:50 RH 326 

Robert M. Gill, Ph.D.

200 Jefferson St. (corner Jefferson and Downey Sts., back side, 2^nd floor), #5B
Office Hours: 10-10:50 and 12-12:50 MWF, 11-12 TR
(or by appointment)
831-5534
E-mail: rgill

 This course serves to introduce students to the comparative study of political regimes.  It considers both the methodological issues and the principal topics involved in comparative political analysis.  The course satisfies three hours of the General Education requirement in either Social and Behavioral Sciences or International and Intercultural Studies.

 TEXTBOOK AND READINGS:  Gregory S. Mahler, Comparative Politics: An Institutional and Cross-National Approach, The New York Times, weekdays, by subscription through the university bookstore

 PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE 

The participation policy in force in this class is based on two considerations: 1) Due to the nature of the material covered in the course and the way the class will be conducted, regular attendance is essential.  You must come to class regularly and on time.  2) Over the course of the semester, most students occasionally must miss a class for good reason. 

In light of these considerations, the following policy will be in effect: The roll will be called at the beginning of class each day.  Those not responding will be counted absent. (Students who arrive after their names are called will be counted absent.)  Any student who has more than SIX recorded absences will not be eligible for the curves on tests and semester grades once the limit of six cuts has been passed.  Any student with more than TEN recorded absences will have her/his course grade lowered by one letter for each cut after the tenth.

 You must save your cuts to cover situations such as personal illness and family emergencies.  Ordinarily, the only exception will be for students who must miss class due to their participation in official, university-sponsored activities such as R.U. athletic teams.  Students who anticipate having to miss class more than otherwise allowed because of such activities must notify the professor BEFORE the anticipated absences.

 QUIZZES 

A short quiz will be given each Friday (or on another day as previously announced in class).  Each quiz will cover politics in countries other than the United States as covered in the weekday editions of The New York Times since the previous Thursday.  (This means that each Friday’s quiz will cover the newspapers from the previous Friday and the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the week in which the quiz is given.)

TESTS:  There will be three tests.  Each will cover reading assignments from the textbook, lectures, and class discussions for the period covered.

 GRADES:  Course grades will be computed on the following basis:

Quiz average—25%
Tests—75% (25% each)

 HONOR SYSTEM

 The Radford honor system is intended to foster an atmosphere of trust and respect which facilitates both learning and personal growth.  By accepting admission to the university, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception.  Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated.  This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code.  Please refer to your Student Handbook for details.

DATES, TOPICS, AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Aug. 22            Introduction                              

Aug. 26,29,31;     Comparative Political        pp. 1-17

Sept.2             Analysis

Sept. 5,7,9,12,14, 16,19,21,23    Political Development, Political Culture, Nationality and Nationalism    pp. 41-65

 Sept. 26           FIRST TEST

 Sept. 28,30; Oct.3, 5,7,10,12,14       Constitutions, Federalism and Unitary Systems, and Ideologies pp. 21-38

 Oct. 17,19         Legislatures                 pp. 70-94

 Oct. 21,24,26      Executives and Executive-Legislative Relations (Parliamentary and Presidential Systems)   pp.100-122

Oct. 28,31; Nov. 2   Courts and Legal Systems (Common- and Civil-Law Systems) pp.126-140

Nov. 4             SECOND TEST

Nov. 7,9,11        Interest Groups and Political Parties        pp.144-158

Nov. 14,16         Great Britain              pp.183-210

Nov. 18            France                      pp.214-240

Nov. 28            Germany                     pp.244-264

Nov. 30            Canada                      pp.293-312

Dec. 2             Mexico                      pp.317-337

Dec. 5             Russia                      pp.364-382

Dec.7              Japan                       pp.267-289

Dec. 9             Nigeria                   pp. 242-360

FINAL:  Section 01 (9:00)—2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.13

        Section 02 (12:00)—8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13

        Section 03 (2:00)—2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12