Introduction
to Comparative Politics
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Herding Cattle in the Great Rift Valley, Uganda
©A. James McAdams, 1999
Welcome to my class!
The goal of this course is to provide you with a systematic way of interpreting world politics. If you are able to make well-informed and reasoned judgments about the contemporary world by the end of this class, I will be pleased.Comparative politics is little more than the attempt to identify similarities and differences among diverse states, cultures, and political systems. For example, what are the priorities of the boy in the photograph? Does he have the same conception of politics as you? How are his life prospects different from yours? I build this course around a single concept: the formation of the modern nation-state. As you will see, some parts of the world have nation states, but others do not. We will explore why this is the case. We will also try to figure out why we should care.
The
reading requirements in this course are both tangible and virtual.
I will ask you to read them very closely. Rather than being obsessed
with details, look for the big picture. All of these assignments
are here for a reason. Your job is to figure out why. Ask yourself:
How do the readings relate to lectures? How do they relate to each
other? Why should we care about the subjects they raise?
Roger Scruton, The West and the Rest
John Kingdon, America the Unusual
Carolina Maria de Jesus, Child of the Dark
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Communist Manifesto
Course Reader. For sale in the Lafortune Copy ShopWebCT: We will use this software to converse routinely.
Learn how to use WebCT by going to the Student Tour.Other WWW assignments are listed throughout this Syllabus. If you come across some useful ones that I can add as suggested readings, please send them to me.
The discussion sections in this course will be intense, intimate, and challenging. I absolutely expect you to participate in all aspects of these discussion sections. Learning how to articulate your views is an important skill. Notre Dame students should be masters of this art. Requirements include: 1) Completing all readings on time; 2) actively participating in each section; 3) Taking part in all online discussions on WebCT; and 4) Completing short writing assignments.
Your final grade in this course will be based upon the following factors:
Reflective essay I (15%); Reflective essay II (15%); Participation in TA sessions and short writing assignments (15% + 15%); and a Final in-class examination (20% + 20%).
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I hold regular office hours every Tuesday from 10:45-11:45 and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00, & by appointment.
Location: Nanovic Institute for European Studies, 211 Brownson Hall (behind the Main Building, through the black wrought iron gate; turn right immediately and go up the stairs). For information about my institute, see Nanovic Institute. Check out the European Studies Minor.
Call:
(574) 631-5253
Write: amcadams@nd.edu
Lenore E. VanderZee
Tristan MasatJohn F. Wingerter
Jeffrey Church
W 2:00 - 4:30 at Recker's and Th 11:00 - 12:00 at Recker's
M 10:30 - 12:00 at Recker's, and W 10:30 - 12:00 at Recker's
Tu 5:00 -7:00, and Th 5:00 - 7:00
Tu 1:30 - 2:30 at Waddick's Coffee Shop, and 9:30 - 10:30, at Waddick's