ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT COURSE SYLLABUS, 2012

PLANO WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

W. Richard Evarts, Instructor

Walter.Evarts@pisd.edu

 

AP Comparative Government

The AP Comparative Government course is based on the design of college-level introductory Comparative Government courses that focus on the comparative study of fundamental comparative concepts, political systems, processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of country settings. This effective, one semester course will involve the study of political science theory and methodology as well as the analysis of specific countries. The six models to be studied during the course of this semester are the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, and Iran. Students throughout the semester will study these respective countries, the components that are universal to all political systems in each of the six countries, and will become aware of the interconnections between the citizenry and state policies. This course will give students a critical perspective of the working of these government systems.

 

 

AP Comparative Government Course Objectives

 

• To introduce students to the breadth and wealth of political experience outside the United States.
• To gain from our study of foreign politics insights into the operations of our own society and an appreciation for the culture and values of other peoples.
• To learn the comparative method of analysis as a means of acquiring and evaluating knowledge. To improve speaking and writing skills in conveying one’s own analysis to others.
• To gain insights into the problems of reform and democratization.

 

 

Textbooks

Almond, Gabriel and Powell, G. Bingham. Comparative Politics Today: A World View, Seventh Edition.  Harper Collins.

 

Charles Hauss, Comparative Politics, Third Edition  West/Thomson Publishing

 

Ethel Woods, AP Comparative Government and Politics: A Study Guide

 

 

Required Readings

• Annual Editions, Comparative Politics 2006-2007Guilford, CT: Dushkin Publishing Group, 1999.  (see http://www.mhcls.com/online/get-isbn.mhtml?isbn=0073123854#sect_1) for reference

·The Economist, Foreign Policy or CIA country briefings for the Western perspective and one national publication for each of the subject countries (e.g. http://english.pravda.ru/ http://premier.gov.ru/eng/events/news/16622/ http://www.aljazeera.com/ http://www.nigeriafirst.org/ http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ http://iran-un.org/ http://english.pravda.ru/ (for subscribers see www.economist,com.

·Each country team will present a daily briefing on the events in their country area; calling student attention to some of the themes of comparison with other subject countries.

 

·Course Requirements

In order for students to be successful in a college level course, it is essential that students maximize their time through proper organization and time management strategies and complete all assigned reading prior to class.  The reading materials are focused on separate countries as class lessons and discussions will help draw comparisons among the countries. From background information about the countries and the comparisons drawn from the study of these countries, students will be responsible for relating a set of facts in one country with those in another in an effort to understand the broader meaning of political phenomena.    It is essential that you remain up to date on the assigned readings from the text and the supplementary articles.  The required reading, along with lectures and class discussion will figure prominently in your formal evaluation on quizzes, examinations, and essays.  

 

DATA AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Throughout the course of the semester, students will be required to analyze various political statistical data.  This will include exercises in the computer lab, assignments involving the analysis of charts, graphs, political cartoons, and use of the Internet.  Students will respond to a series of questions with respect to data examined on daily assignments.  Students also need to be prepared to deal with data analysis on tests and essays.

 

Journal

Students will be expected to read The Economist and write weekly a short entry in a notebook journal.  The Economist will be available here in our library and accessible through the library database system.  Each entry should discuss one particular political/social issue about your assigned country.  Note the article’s title, author, date, and page number in your entry.  Briefly review the content of the article and write a short political analysis of the piece by

• comparing the country to the political systems we are learning in class

or

• addressing the key concepts in Comparative Politics and discussing the political implications for that particular country.

 

Students will turn in their journal roughly the fourth week of each 6 Weeks.  Four entries are required every time you turn in your journal.  Do not wait until the due date to read your articles and write up your analysis.  Students must obtain permission from the teachers to use a source other than The Economist.

 

For each entry, keep in mind these concepts as you discuss the significance of the article:

• Political culture and Legitimacy: political culture, communication, socialization, supranational, nations and states, supranational governance, state building, legitimacy, stability, constitutions, belief systems as sources of legitimacy (religion, ideology), governance and accountability
• Political Systems and decision making: levels of government, executives, legislatures, institutional relations, elections, electoral systems, political parties, party systems, elite recruitment and leadership, bureaucracies, military and coercive institutions, judiciaries
• Political socialization and Leadership Recruitment (Citizens, Society and the State): cleavages and politics (ethnic, racial, class, gender, religious, regional), civil society, media roles, political participation (forms/models/trends) including political violence, citizenship and social representation
• Political and Economic Change: revolution, coups, war, trends and types of political change (democratization), trends and types of economic change (privatization), relationship between economic and political change, globalization and fragmentation, regionalism
• Common Policy Issues & Challenges: economic performance, social welfare (education, health, poverty), civil liberties, civil rights, and freedoms, environment, population and migration, economic development, domestic and international factors influencing policymaking and implementation.
• Religion, secularism and political friction: Is there a predominant religion?  Do its principles conflict with or endorse modernism? Are the traditions of stability or options of social change in ascendency?
• Concepts of rectitude and legal process: Do western precepts of due process provide more protection for the citizens or the state?  Where and in what form the rights of citizen are enshrined and how permanent are those precepts?
• Terms of art and description: What new words or special vocabulary is used by citizens and by the state to affirm rights and remedies in the political order?

 

 

 

 

Country Presentations

During the first week of the semester students will be assigned to a group that will research one of the six countries over the course of the semester. Each group will give a 15 minute oral presentation on ONE TOPIC of the ten topics assigned to that group.  Such presentations will begin in the third week of the semester. All six countries will be the subject of the report during the third week of the semester.  Three weeks later the pattern will be continued until all reports have been completed for all of the subject countries.  The presentation is not limited to but must include visual aids, statistical analysis and comparison to the other core countries.  Each report will also provide a summary briefing “white paper” for all students in the class. 

EXAMINATIONS

Formal evaluations may consist of multiple choice tests or essay tests. Students should be prepared each unit for the possibility of taking either format. The structure of the tests will be similar to that of the AP examination. After the first unit, students must be prepared for the tests to be comprehensive, meaning that any information covered during the semester (including current events) will be considered fair game.  Also, after the first unit, students may be required to write two 20-minute essays, which, in addition to requiring students to display knowledge of the subject matter, will serve to prepare them for the format of the AP exam.

 

Quizzes, Daily Work

Because reading assignments for this course are from a college level textbook and are quite technical in parts, there may be more than one reading quiz given for each assigned country chapter.  In addition, vocabulary quizzes and short-reading quizzes on periodical articles or current events may occur.

 

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS ESSAY TIPS

 

1. The essay questions are geared toward 20 and 30 minute responses.  The topics are more focused and, in considering the scope of the topics, require less lengthy responses.
2. Take time before writing to recognize what the subject of the prompt is.  The prompt may ask about one topic, or a connection between topics.  Be sure to address all parts of the essay prompt.
3. Pay close attention to what the question requires you to do.  The question may ask you to “list,” “discuss,” “describe,” “explain,” etc.  Be sure to do what the question asks you to do.  In some cases, a combination of activities is required (i.e. “list and explain,” etc.)
4. You do not need to address both sides.  Build a case for one side and provide a zealous and substantiated response.
5. Support your answer with relevant evidence and examples.  Examples should be as recent as possible.
6. Answer the question completely.
7. Unless the question asks for only a list, it should be assumed that some thoughtful analysis is required to answer the question completely.  A “list” may not even need to be in complete sentences, but it usually must be accompanied by substantial analysis.  Again, be sure that you do everything the question asks you to do.
8. Though a thesis is not always required, one should always try to include a thesis, even if it is simply a broad statement that sets up the rest of your essay.  Certain topics may not lend themselves to a traditional essay format, but one should try to create a thesis if possible.

 

Journal Rubric

 

 

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT

Source: The Economist or other official publication (as listed).

 

4 Articles—100 points

 

25 points possible for each article

 

Each article:

 10 points

• Style
• Format
• Source
• Summary 

 

15 points

• Analysis
• Linkage
• Comparisons
• Significance to political system/politics

 

 

• While reading The Economist, be careful of opinion columns (Bagehot, Charlemagne, and Lexington). There is certainly excellent information to be gleaned from these editorials, but be sure to place them in their proper context. 

 

• Be sure to use recent articles in your entries. (Do not go back farther than 3 weeks)

 

• Be sure to show the significance of the event you are chronicling in your analysis.  Make evident the context and importance of the issue you are exploring.

 

• Do not use first person and refrain from hypothetical questions and or situations.

 

• Be sure to link your analysis with your “thesis” and key concepts. 

 

• Do not wait until the last minute to compile your journals!

Policies for Current Event Presentations

To guide your current event presentations throughout the semester, keep these general policy categories in mind:

• Economic performance
• Social Welfare (education, health, poverty)
• Civil Liberties, rights and freedoms
• Environment
• Population and migration
• Economic development

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT

SEMESTER PRESENTATION GUIDELINES

Use the following outline as a guide in your examination of the following countries.

 

 

 

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Political Institutions Citizens, Society, and the State Political and Economic Change Public Policies

 

Countries:

• GREAT BRITAIN
• RUSSIA
• CHINA

• MEXICO
• NIGERIA
• IRAN

 

1. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
   1. Political culture, communication, socialization
   2. Nations and states
   3. Supranational governance
   4. Sources of power
   5. Constitutions (forms, purposes, application)
   6. Regime types
   7. Economic systems
   8. Legitimacy, stability
   9. Belief systems as sources of legitimacy (religion, ideology)
   10. Governance and accountability
2. Political Institutions
   1. Unitary/Federal
   2. Centralization/decentralization
   3. Executives
      1. Dual/single
      2. President/PM
   4. Legislatures
      1. Unicameral/ bicameral (symmetric/asymmetric)
      2. Organization
      3. Membership (representation)
   5. Parliamentary and Presidential relationships
   6. Elections
      1. Presidential
      2. Parliamentary
      3. Referendum
      4. Noncompetitive
   7. Electoral System
      1. PR, SMD (plurality, majority runoff)
   8. Political Parties
   9. Party systems
   10. Leadership and elite recruitment
   11. Interest groups and interest group systems
   12. Bureaucracies
   13. Military and other coercive institutions
   14. Judiciaries
       1. Degree of autonomy
       2. Judicial review (including EU)
       3. Types of law
3. Citizens, Society, and the State
   1. Cleavages and politics (ethnic, racial, class, gender, religious, regional)
   2. Civil Society
   3. Media roles
   4. Political participation (forms/modes/trends) including political violence
   5. Social movements
   6. Citizenship and social representation
4. Political and Economic Change
   1. Revolution, coups, war
   2. Trends and types of political change (incl. democratization)
   3. Trends and types of economic change (incl. privatization)
   4. Relationship between political and economic change
   5. Globalization and fragmentation
5. Public Policies
   1. Common policy issues: economic performance, social welfare, civil liberties and rights/freedoms, environment, population and migration, economic development
   2. Factors influencing public policymaking and implementation (domestic, international)

 

You must also consider:

1. FACTORS THAT HAVE HELPED SHAPE POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
   1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
   2. GEOGRAPHY
   3. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
   4. ETHNIC, CASTE, RELIGIOUS GROUPS
   5. IDEOLOGIES
   6. ART, MUSIC, FOOD TRADITIONS

 

2. THE POLITICAL PROCESS
   1. HOW ARE RULERS CHOSEN
   2. ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
   3. HOW INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS

 

3. THE MAJOR POLITICAL INSTITITUTIONS
   1. THE WAY POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS EXERCISE POWER
   2. INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
   3. RESTRAINTS ON POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

 

4. PUBLIC POLICY
   1. FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
   2. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNAL ORDER
   3. EXTERNAL SECURITY
   4. RESOLVING CONFLICT BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS
   5. RAISING MONEY TO PAY FOR SERVICES
   6. WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND TO WHOM ARE THEY PROVIDED
   7. REGULATING THE BEHAVIOR OF CITIZENS

(DO THE CITIZENS RECOGNIZE THEIR GOVERNMENT AS LEGITIMATE?)

 

Also include in your presentation:

1. Annotated Bibliography
2. Typed Outline
3. Visuals of Structures of Institutions, Leaders, and Party System
4. Review Activity
5. Current Issues

 

Rubric for Semester Presentations

 

Substance (70 points)

• Presentation is clear, direct, and made understandable to all students
• A minimal amount of prodding from the teacher is necessary
• Outside information incorporated to supplement information in the textbook
• Students are able to provide examples from contemporary politics to back up assertions made about their country

• Students address each aspect of the outline provided in detail (political legitimacy, social issues, ethnic/regional conflict, political system and structure, interest groups etc.)
• Students provide outline for class as well as review activity.
• Presentations serves as an excellent source of information as well as an excellent, encompassing review

 

Style (30 points)

• Use of colorful visuals that aid students in understanding the material presented
• Students display enthusiasm and a positive attitude toward the subject at hand; students go beyond the use of lecture to get ideas across.
• Time requirement met
• Group works well together: it is apparent that the groups have met before to plan, each student knows the information presented, each student contributes to the presentation.

.

 

PURPOSE: The Advanced Placement Government and Politics Study Guide state the purpose for our course.  “Comparative government and politics provides an introduction to the wide, diverse worlds of governments and practices that currently exist in modern times. Although the course focuses on specific countries, it also emphasizes an understanding of conceptual tools and methods that form a framework for comparing almost any governments that exist today.  Additionally, it requires students to go beyond individual political systems to consider international forces that affect all people in the world, often in very different ways.”

 

Using the Web for AP Comparative Government

General Resources

Library of Congress Links to International Studies:

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/spguides.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/amed/amedlinks.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/asian/area_AD.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/european/euro.html

http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/explore.html

http://www.hpronline.org/
Analyzing the international political landscape, the Harvard Political Review is an excellent place to explore and view political developments from around the world.

http://www.psqonline.org
Government, politics, policy, both domestic and international, are examined at this site.
Articles can be sampled for free and there is a listing of free archived materials. Other articles require a subscription to view.

http://www.odci.gov/cia/ciahome.html
Get to the CIA Factbook, which contains an abundance of statistical and political information about countries around the world

http://usinfo.state.gov/
US Department of State website.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com
National Geographic online with maps, statistics, and excellent information regarding political culture.

http://klipsan.com/elecnews.htm
Daily coverage of elections around the world is at this site. Links to in-depth reports on world election results as well as links to world newspapers can also be found at this site.

http://www.agora.stm.it/elections/election.htm
Alphabetical listing of countries with information updated monthly. Electoral Calendar, recent election updates, and parties by country or by orientation (agrarian, authoritarian, centrist, communist etc.) are some of the links on the site.

http://ceip.org
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Forum for international issues.

 

International Organizations
http://europa.eu.int
The site of the European Union

http://www.wto.org

The site of the World Trade Organization

http://www.un.org/

The site of the United Nations

http://www.worldbank.org/

The site of the World Bank

http://www.nato.int/

The site of NATO

General Media Sources
http://economist.com

http://europe.cnn.com/
CNN.com Europe is a new CNN Web site that has all the breaking news, context, analysis, multimedia and interactivity you already expect from CNN.com in addition to news from, about and directed toward a European audience.

http://www.cnn.com

http://www.allpolitics.com

http://www.cpsan.org

http://www.nytimes.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.pbs.org

http://www.npr.org

http://www.abcnews.com

http://www.cbsnews.com

http://www.msnbc.com

http://www.foxnews.com

http://www.politicsnow.com

Human Rights Organizations

http://www.amnesty.org
Amnesty International

http://www.hrw.org/
Human Rights Watch

General Reference on Great Britain

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1038758.stm

BBC Country Profile

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/main/uk/uk.html

LOC on the UK

http://britain-info.org
British Information Service site with an abundance of material on Tony Blair, the EU, and many other topics in the study of the British political system.

http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/gb.html
Governments on the Web: General resources, national institutions, media links, departments and political party links, regional institutions, municipal institutions, and representations in foreign countries.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html
CIA Factbook site with excellent background information, including descriptions of geography, demographics, the governmental structure, the economy, communication, transportation, the military and transnational issues.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
National Statistics of the UK. The “home of official statistics, reflecting Britain’s economy, population and society at the national and local level”

http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/unitedki.htm
A general reference site with full color physical maps, political maps and key statistics.

http://www.citynet/countries/united_kingdom.htm
More general information on culture and language, education, geography, news and weather, travel and cities and events.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108078.html
General reference site with historical information, and links to regions within the UK. Also links to statistical resources.

http://www.politicalresources.net/uk.htm
Links to organizations, government, the media, elections and a host of other sites, including a tribute page to Margaret Thatcher!

http://www.worldstatesmen.org/
“World Statesmen is an encyclopedia of nations, colonies, international and religious organizations, and other polities”

Parties, Elections, Interest Groups

http://www.electionworld.org/election/unitedkingdom.htm
Recent election results in the UK with links to other political resources.

http://mori.com
Public Opinion Polls

http://www.labour.org.uk/
The Labor Party

http://conservatives.com
The Conservative Party

http://libdems.org.uk
Liberal Democrats

http://snp.org
Scottish National Party

http://plaidcymru.org
Wales Party

http://uup.org
Ulster Unionists

http://sdlp.ie
Social Democratic and Labor Party

http://dup.org.uk
Democratic Unionist Party

http://www.sinnfein.ie
Sinn Fein

http://www.tuc.org.uk/
Trade Union Council website

UK Institutions

http://www.open.ogv.uk
“The easy way to government info and services online”

http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/gb.html
A directory of British government websites

http://www.parliament.uk
Parliament

http://www.pm.gov.uk
The official 10 Downing Street website.

http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/
The Cabinet Office

http://www.britcoun.org/
The British Council

http://www.royal.gov.uk/
The British Monarchy

http://213.38.88.195/coi/coipress.nsf
The Central Office of Information

Regions of the United Kingdom -Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are represented by comprehensive websites that include good information about political culture, government, and politics.
http://www.scot.web.co.uk/tp

http://www.arachnid.cs.cf.ac.uk/Guide/wales.html

http://www.wales.gov.uk/index.htm

http://www.ireland.com

UK Media

http://economist.com
No explanation necessary!

http://news.bbc.co.uk
BBC News

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/
The Times, a daily newspaper

http://www.guardian.co.uk/
The Guardian, a centre-left daily newspaper

http://www.telegraph.co.uk
The conservative Daily Telegraph, a newspaper

http://www.independent.co.uk/
The Independent, a daily newspaper

 

 

Web Links on Russia

 

http://www.economist.com/countries/Russia/

Economist on Russia

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1102275.stm

BBC on Russia

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/03/98/russian_mafia/default.stm

BBC Report on Russia

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/rutoc.html

LOC on Russia

 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/european/russia/ru.html

Portals of the World, LOC

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/russia/

Lonely Planet on Russia

 

http://www.worldtimezone.com/time-russia1.htm

Russian Time Zones

 

http://travel.state.gov/russia.html

US State Dept on Russia

 

http://www.pbs.org/weta/faceofrussia/

PBS Special on Russia

 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/russia.html

Energy Information Administration on Russia

 

http://www.gov.ru/

Russian Govt Institutions—in Russian

 

http://www.council.gov.ru/index_e.htm

Russian Govt Institutions

 

http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/09/30/

Pravda

 

http://members.valley.net/~transnat/

Russia on the Web

 

http://www.therussiajournal.com/index.htm?cat=8&type=3&sid=4052519401900057146830147&obj=30547

Russia Journal Analysis

 

http://www.russiavotes.org/

Voting and Polling Statistics in Russia

 

http://www.edu.uni-klu.ac.at/~kkehraus/

Russian Military Links

 

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/russia/chechnya/

Human Rights and Chechnya

 

http://www.ceip.org/files/events/events.asp?EventID=525

Chechnya 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/reference/bios/putin.html

Putin Bio

 

http://www.cnn.com/resources/newsmakers/world/asia/yeltsin.html

Yeltsin Bio

 

http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~dmiguse/Russian/bybio.html

Yeltsin Bio

 

Web Links on China

 

http://www.economist.com/countries/China/

Economist on China

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1287798.stm

BBC on China

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cntoc.html

LOC on China

 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/asian/china/china.html

Portals of the World, LOC

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_east_asia/china/

Lonely Planet on China

 

http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/0927/voc.index.html

Time Special on China

 

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/handover/

CNN Special on China/Taiwan

 

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2002/ccp/

CNN Special on China and Leadership

 

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html

CIA Factbook on China

 

http://www.chinatoday.com/

China Today

 

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/other/about.shtml

People’s Daily

 

http://link.lanic.utexas.edu/asnic/countries/china/

 

http://beatl.barnard.columbia.edu/reacting/china/confucianism.html

Confucianism

 

http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/china2.htm

Economic Reform in China

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/99aug/9908china.htm

Robt. Kaplan article on China

 

www.anu.edu.au/

Australian National University

http://search.anu.edu.au/search/search.cgi?collection=anu_search_external&query=China%20

ANU Search on China

 

 

 

Web Links on Mexico

 

http://www.economist.com/countries/Mexico/index.cfm

Economist on Mexico

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1205074.stm

BBC on Mexico

 

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mx.html

CIA Factbook on Mexico

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/mxtoc.html

LOC on Mexico

 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/hispanic/mexico/mexico.html

Portals of the World, from the LOC, an excellent links page

 

http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/?NLang=en

Mexican Presidency on the Web

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_america/mexico/

Lonely Planet on Mexico

 

http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html

State Dept website on Mexico

 

http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/mexico/

Latin American Network Information Center UT Austin

 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/mexico.html

Energy Information Administration—US Govt

 

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/scmfaq.html

Culture and Society of Mexico

 

http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/mx.html

Governments on the Web—Mexico

 

http://www.mexonline.com/

Mexico Online

 

http://www.ilstu.edu/class/hist263/docs/1917const.html

1917 Constitution

 

http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/nave/zaps.html

Zapatista History

 

http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/

PBS on the US-Mexican War

 

 

 

 

Links on the Web for Nigeria

 

http://www.economist.com/countries/Nigeria/

Economist on Nigeria

 

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ni.html

CIA Factbook on Nigeria

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ngtoc.html

LOC on Nigeria

 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/amed/nigeria/nigeria.html

Portals of the World, from the LOC, an excellent links page

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1064557.stm

BBC on Nigeria

 

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/nigeria.html

Nigeria on the Web—Numerous Links to Nigeria

 

http://africa.oneworld.net/article/frontpage/358/5142

One World Country Briefing on Nigeria

 

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Nigeria.html

African Studies/Nigeria at UPENN

 

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/

The Guardian

 

http://odili.net/nigeria.html

Nigeria Web

 

http://www.nigeriaworld.com/

Nigeria World

 

http://www.nigeriadaily.com/

Nigeria Daily

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/nigeria/

Lonely Planet on Nigeria

 

http://travel.state.gov/nigeria.html

State Department Site on Nigeria

 

 

Links on the Web for Iran

 

http://www.economist.com/countries/Iran/index.cfm

Economist Country Profile

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/790877.stm

BBC Country Profile

 

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/middle_east/iran/iran.htm

Lonely Planet Map of Iran

 

http://www.electionworld.org/iran.htm

Electionworld Site on Iran

 

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/irtoc.html

LOC web on Iran

 

http://www.loc.gov/law/guide/iran.html

Constitution of Iran as well as political institutions of Iran and an excellent links page

 

http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/amed/iran/iran.html

Portals of the World, from the Library of Congress—Selected Resources, an excellent links page

 

http://www.netiran.com/

Compilation of Resources and Statistics on Iran

 

http://www.irna.ir/

Islamic Republic News Agency

 

http://www.tehran.com/

 

http://www.iranalmanac.com/

 

http://www.irna.ir/?LANG=EN&PART=_HOME&TYPE=HO

Islamic Republic News Agency in English

 

http://www.un.int/iran/

Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN

 

http://www.terrorismanswers.com/sponsors/iran.html

Iran and Terrorism

 

http://geography.about.com/library/maps/bliran.htm

Geographic sources on Iran

 

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html

CIA Factbook—Country Profile on Iran

 

http://www.iran-daily.com/

Iran Daily Newspaper

 

http://www.itto.org/

Iran Tourism and Touring Organization

 

http://www.salamiran.org/

 

http://tehran.stanford.edu/

Iranian Cultural Center—Stanford

 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/iran.html

Energy Information Administration—US GOVT

 

http://menic.utexas.edu/menic/Countries_and_Regions/Iran/

Middle East Network Information Center—UT Austin

 

http://www.irvl.net/

Iran Virtual Library

 

http://www.oznet.net/iran/

Iran Photo Album

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required Readings:

• Almond and Powell: Chapters 1-7
• Articles from Annual Editions:
  • “What is Democracy and What is Not”
  • “Illiberal Democracy and Vladimir Putin’s Russia” by Neil Mitchell
  • Democratization Briefing Paper
  • Globalization Briefing Paper 

 

Wednesday

We and They—Rudyard Kipling

Intro to Comparative Politics

• The Comparative Method
• Overview of Political Systems
• Basic Concepts Used for Comparisons—6 categories
• The Six Countries: Great Britain, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran

Books, Syllabus, Course Requirements etc.

Read “What is Democracy and What is Not” for Friday

Bring book everyday this week!

 

Thursday

Assign Countries for Group Presentations

• Assign Country Briefing…see https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

for key statistics on your country.       

Assign and begin reading of Almond and Powell

• Key concepts, significance of concepts, application of concepts

Key Concept of the Day—Qualitative v. Quantitative Analysis 

 

Friday

Key Concepts in Comparative Politics (state, sovereignty, 3 world class., rich and poor,, review dem/oligarchy etc./legitimacy)          

• Continue in class reading of chapters in Almond and Powell
• Visit www.freedomhouse.org for discussion on Democracy

 

Monday

Graded Discussion—“What Democracy Is and Is Not”

• Begin Reading selected pages from Democratization Briefing Paper and Globalization Briefing Paper

 

Tuesday

Begin Presentations of Chapters 2-6

• Focus on: Sovereignty, Legitimacy, Social Divisions and Cleavages, Political Culture and Socialization, Parochials, Subjects and Participants

 

Wednesday

Continue Presentations of Chapters 2-6

• Focus on: Participation, Interest Articulation, Interest Aggregation, Institutional Frameworks, Elites and Leadership Groups, Political Recruitment
• Electoral Systems

 

Thursday

• Wrap up Presentations of Chapter 2-6

• Institutions of Government
• Democratization, Modernization, Distributive Politics, Economic Development
• Policies and Political Change

 

Friday

• Graded Discussion—Democratization briefing paper
• Take Home Vocabulary Quiz on Key Concepts

 

Monday

 

Tuesday

Faculty In-service—Student Holiday

 

Wednesday 

• Unit I Essay Test

 

AP Comparative Government Chapter Presentations

Due: Tuesday  

 

Over the next week, we will be covering the key concepts of Comparative politics. Our textbook Comparative Politics Today gives significant attention to these concepts in the first seven chapters. While some of the concepts are quite standard, political scientists in the field of Comparative politics at times utilize distinct concepts, classifications, and definitions to explain political systems, their functions, and their processes. Before we begin our country studies this semester, it is essential that we understand the key concepts of Comparative politics.

 

To cover these concepts in an expedient fashion, groups of students will present to the class the key concepts from ONE chapter (out of the first seven).  The following country groups will present on the following chapters:

• Great Britain: Chapter 1
• Russia—Chapter 2
• China—Chapter 3
• Mexico—Chapter 4
• Nigeria—Chapter 5
• Iran—Chapter 6

(Note: Chapter 7 will be covered throughout the semester)

 

In a 12-15 minute presentation, students will present in Powerpoint format the key themes, concepts, and definitions of their respective chapter.

 

During their presentation to the class students should provide an overview of the chapter, define and explain the key concepts within the chapter, and discern between those concepts we have already studied in American politics and those that are new. 

 

Students will have two days in class to work with their group to compile their presentation. All groups should be prepared to present next Tuesday.

 

 

Assigned Reading:

• Chapter 8, Almond and Powell
• Selected articles from Annual Editions including:
  • Article I: “A Constitutional Revolution in Britain?” by Donley T. Studlar, pp. 16-21.
  • Article II: “Judgment Day” by Emma Duncan, pp.22-23.
  • Article III: “Does New Labour Deserve a Third Term?” by Anthony Giddens and David Marquand, pp. 24-28.  Also see “Parliament and Congress,” “President and Prime Minister”
• The Economist

 

Thursday

Intro to Great Britain

Themes, concepts, and current policy issues

Political Culture and Political History of Great Britain

• Begin reading Chapter 8, Almond and Powell
• Watch Prime Minister’s Questions—Sunday night, 8 p.m. C-SPAN
• http://www.c-span.org/

 

Friday 

Continue Political Culture and Political History of Great Britain

• Have Parliament and Congress, President and PM, and articles on New Labour read by Monday

 

Monday  

Institutions of British Government

Opening of Parliament and How Parliament Works

• Assign Question Time Activity, due Monday

Tuesday 

Wrap up Institutions of British Government

Interest Articulation and Aggregation in Great Britain

• Political Parties, Party Organization, Policies, and Competence
• Interest Groups in the Britain
• Recent Elections in the UK—reference Donley Studlar’s “The British General Election of 2005” for election statistics

Begin Question Time research and develop policy stances

 

Wednesday 

Research Day on party policies, current issues in the U.K. 

 

Thursday  

Wrap up research for Question Time Activity

 

Friday 

Prime Minister’s Question Time Simulation

 

Monday  

Policies in Great Britain

The EU and the UK

• Great Britain review

 

Tuesday  

Unit II Essay Test

Great Britain and EU

Question Time Activity Web Sites

 

www.cspan.org

Prime Minister’s Questions

 

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page306.asp

Prime Minister’s Questions—Downing Street Site

 

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page5180.asp

Background of Question Time

 

http://www.politics.co.uk/glossarysectionpage.aspx?itemid=1882794&menuindex=430010608

More background on Question Time

 

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp

Downing Street Web Site

 

http://www.economist.com/countries/Britain/

Economist Country Profile

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2006/kennedy_resignation/default.stm

Liberal Democrat Leadership search

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2005/conservative_leadership_contest/default.stm

Conservative Leadership search

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2005/party_conferences_05/default.stm

Party Conferences Overview

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4316530.stm

Labour Confrence

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4316784.stm

Conservative Conference

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4316256.stm

Liberal  Democrat Conference

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/default.stm

2005 General Election

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/81344.stm

Party Web Sites

 

 

Great Britain

 

Key Objectives

To understand

• how tradition affects the political system and political behavior
• the effect of class on politics, as opposed to other social divisions
• the roles of Lords, Commons, the Prime Minister, and the cabinet
• how the government uses its power
• why Britons share values on acceptable forms of political participation
• how the education system supports parliamentary and bureaucratic leadership
• why Labor and Tories have differed over economic policies since World War II
• how “new Labor under Tony Blair relates to “Thatcherism”
• how Northern Ireland and membership in the EU affect domestic politics
• how devolution is working
• how policy is made in the British political system
• the current policy stances on immigration, human rights, civil liberties, national security, foreign policy, the environment, social welfare, health, and education.

 

Key Concepts         

Backbenchers

Beveridge Report

BBC

Caucuses

Cabinet

Centralization

“Civic culture”

Clause 4 in Labour Constitution

Collective Consensus

Collective Responsibility

“Constitution of the Crown”

Cultural heterogeneity

Democratic Unionist Party

Devolution

Decentralization

Downing Street 

English Bill of Rights

Euroskeptics

First past the post

Glorious Revolution

“the government”

Gradualism

Hereditary peers

Home rule

Insularity

Irish Republican Army (IRA)

“Iron Lady”

Law Lords

Liberal Democrats

Labour

Life Peers

Limited government

“Loyal opposition”

Magna Carta

Multi-nationalism

Noblesse oblige

OPEC

Oxbridge

Parliamentary system

Plaid Cymru

Plurality voting system

Politics of protest

Privatization

QUANGOS

Question Time

Safe districts

Scottish Nationalists

“Shadow cabinet”

Sinn Fein

Solidarity

Thatcherism

Tony Blair

Third Way

Tories

Trade Union Congress

Unitary government

Vote of Confidence

Whigs

Whitehall

Westminster Model

Keynesian welfare state

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required Readings

• Chapter 12 Almond and Powell (363—409)
• Articles from Annual Editions #31 and #32, and from AP Central:

“Illiberal Democracy and Vladimir Putin”, Mitchell, “Russia’s Managed Democracy,” Hale   

• Selected articles from The Economist

 

Wednesday 

Current Events Presentations

Brief Country Briefings: Current events in UK, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran 

 

Thursday

Intro to Russia—Russia, ELLBUMGAATTUKK (and the Near Abroad)

Key Concepts, Vocabulary, and Geography

Statistics on Russia: CIA Factbook: “Russia on the Verge” 

Read Chapter 12--363-370

 

Friday

Political Structure of the USSR and the

1993 Constitution

The Presidency in Russia 

Read Chapter 12—370-379

 

Monday

Russia in Transition: The policies of Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin

Video clip—Yeltsin’s Last Days 

Read Chapter 12-379-384

 

Tuesday

Russia’s Managed (or “Sovereign”)Democracy: Graded Discussion on Democracy in Russia

Civil Society, the Media, and Participation in Russia

• Political Participation in Russia
• Visit www.russiavotes.org for polling data on Russian public opinion, election results
• Elections, Parties, and Interest Groups in Russia

 

Wednesday

Continue Russia’s Managed Democracy

Elections and Public Opinion in Russia

Russia Votes slides

 

Thursday

Rule of Law in Russia

Elites in Russia—The Oligarchs

• The new nomenklatura and the bureaucracy

Read Chapter 12—384-397

 

Friday

Federalism in Russia

• Centralization and Kremlin Inc.
• The War on Terror and Chechyna
• Beslan, Theater Siege, and Black Widows

Read Chapter 12—397-406

JOURNALS DUE

 

Monday

Policy Making in Russia

• Russian Economic Development
• “A little less shock, and a little more therapy”

The Future for Russia

 

Tuesday

Russia, the West, and the International Community

 

Wednesday

Review for Russia Test

Format:

• 2 Concept Identification Questions
• 1 Comparative Essay (GB and Russia)
• 10 Multiple Choice

 

Thursday

Russia Test

 

Friday

Current Events Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Concepts (not exhaustive):  Russian traditions of autocracy, Lenin' s theory of the vanguard party, the Soviet system, Gorbachev's reforms (glasnost, perestroika), democratization, illiberal democracy, centralization, market economy transition, shock therapy, civil society, Russia and the West

 

Objectives

To understand:

1. the geography of the former USSR, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Russian Federation.
2. the impact of history on Russia' s political culture.
3. how Lenin's theories built on Marx's ideas.
4. how the Communist Party maintained control of the Soviet Union.
5. how the transition from a soviet system to democracy evolved.
6. what role Boris Yeltsin has played as President.
7. how the Russian constitution operates
8. how Russians have formed a multiparty system and how they vote.
9. how transitional economic policies have affected Russian society.
10. what Russians currently think about their political system.
11. how Vladimir Putin has defined Russian politics.
12. the strength of Russian civil society.
13. Russia’s experience with democratization
14. Russia’s role in the world
15. Russia’s current social conditions: AIDS, alcoholism, demographic trends, health, and education 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terms:

Bolsheviks

Central Committee

Chechnya

Chernobyl

Civil Society

Collectivization

Communist Party

Confederation of Independent States

Constitutional Court

Cultural heterogeneity in Russia

Democratic Centralism 

Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia

Federation Council

Five Year Plans

General Secretary

Glasnost

GOSPLAN

Gorbachev

Governors

Illiberal democracy

Judiciary

Law governed state

Lenin

Liberal Democratic party of Russia

Marxism-Leninism

Near abroad

Nomenklatura

NTV

Oligarchs

Presidential decrees

Privatization

Procuracy

Putin

Shock Therapy

Proportional Representation

Slavophile v. Westernizer

Statism in Russia

Stalin
Duma

United Russia

Just Russia

Women of Russia

Yabloko

Yeltsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required Reading:

• Chapter 9 in Almond and Powell
• Selected articles from Annual Editions:#37 “The Quiet Revolution: The Emergence of Capitalism,” and #38 “China’s Leader, Ex-Rival at Side, Solidifies Power”
• Selected articles from The Economist Survey of China, 2002 and 2006

 

Monday

President’s Day Holiday

 

 

Tuesday

Introduction to China with update from China group’s Economist Journals

Key Themes and Concepts

China Overview of Key Issues, Policies, Challenges

Political History and Political Culture

• Begin Reading Chapter 13 in Almond and Powell
• Read 207-214 in Almond for Wednesday

 

Wednesday

Chinese Communism vs. Russian Communism

• Two Revolutions

Read 214-226 in Almond

 

Thursday

Chinese Party Guys: Mao, Deng, Ziang, and Hu

• Revolution of 1949
• Great Leap Forward and Hundred Flowers
• Cultural Revolution
• The Four Modernizations
• The Three Represents

Friday

Annual Day—no classes 

 

Monday

Faculty Work Day

 

Tuesday

Political Institutions in China—post 1982

• Continue Political Institutions in China: Parallel Hierarchies and Sources of Authority
• Party and People’s Congresses

Wednesday, February 28

• Elites and Leadership in China: reference Parris article “Elite Transformation and Institutional Change”
• Rule of law in China? Minxien Pei (CEIP) article

Read by 226-238 in Almond

 

Wednesday

Policies and Policy Making in China

• 1978—Present--Socialist Market Economy
• Globalization and Privatization and consequences of economic reform
• Visit http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/china/
  • China On the Rise

Read 238-248 in Almond

 

Thursday

China Group in the Lead

Roundtable Discussion on China

• Current Trends and Issues in China: Pollution, land reform, , economic/banking reform,
• Political Socialization and Participation in China 
• Civil Society in China

 

 

Friday

Civil rights and civil liberties in China

• Falun Dafa, Muslims in China
• “democratic elections”, the internet, the Olympics and the world

 

 

Monday

Video—China in the Red

• Assignment:

Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/roundtable/

and read through the opening remarks of the “four noted experts” on China’s political and economic reforms. This website is the companion site to the video “China in the Red”.

 

Tuesday

Parent Teacher Conference Day

 

Wednesday

Video—China in the Red

Assignment:

• Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/roundtable/2.html and

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/roundtable/3.html and read the second and third rounds of remarks.

 

 

Thursday

Finish Video—China in the Red

Read 248-250 in Almond 

 

Tuesday

China in Review: Key Concepts and Comparisons

 

Wednesday

Mock Exam:

• Utilize Free Response Questions from 1999 and 2000—rural/urban income distribution charts and consequences of economic reform

 

Unit IV: China

Key Concepts (not exhaustive):
Impact of China's long history, Confucianism, social and bureaucratic hierarchies, Mao's "mass line", dual authority of state and party, reform movements, democratic centralism, “Socialism with Chinese characteristics,” guanxi, fang shou, nomenklatura, fragmented authoritarianism

Objectives: To understand:

1. how traditional Chinese values affirm public as well as private morality.
2. how the Chinese revolution changed Chinese society.
3. the importance of Mao's leadership.
4. the nature of economic changes and reforms under Mao.
5. how the structures of the Chinese state are connected to party organizations.
6. how the CCP organizes and supports political participation.
7. how Deng Xioaping changed Chinese economic policies after Mao' s death.
8. what effects economic liberalization have had on Chinese society and politics.
9. the legacy of Ziang Zemin
10. challenges China faces: leadership, democratization, and social change.
11.  the effect of globalization on China

 

 

 

 

 

Terms for China

 

Cadres

Central Committee

Chang Kai-shek

Chinese Communist Party

Communist Youth League

Confucianism

Corruption

Cultural Revolution

Danwei 

Democracy Movement

Democratic centralism

Deng Xiaoping

Egalitarianism

Fang Shou

Fragmented authoritarianism

Four Modernizations

“Gang of Four”

Great Leap Forward

Guardianship

Guanxi

Hu Jintao

Jiang Zemin

Leading small groups

Long March

Mao Zedong

Mass line

Mass mobilization campaign

Minority nationalities

National Party Congress

National People’s Congress

Nationalist Party

Nomenklatura

One Child Policy

One Country, Two Systems

Party-state

Parallel hierarchies

PLA

Politburo

Rule by law

Socialist market economy

State Council

Taiwan (Republic of China)

Tiananmen Massacre

Village committees 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country Presentation Dates: Great Britain—April 19 Russia—April 20 China—April 23 Mexico—April 24 Nigeria—April 26 Iran—April 27

Assigned Readings

• Mexico Briefing Paper from the College Board
• Chapter 10 in Almond and Powell
• Articles from Annual Editions
• The Economist

 

Thursday

Intro to Mexico—Key Themes and Concepts

Google Map of Mexico—North/South, Urban/Rural distinctions 

Introduction to NICs and LDCs

Recent Developments and Democratization in Mexico

• Election 2000 and 2006, election reforms, process of democratization, the PRI, the PAN, and the PRD

                                          

 

Monday

Sovereignty, Authority, and Power in Mexico

Political History and Political Culture in Mexico

• Revolution in Mexico: refer to article on Revolutions (compare with China, Russia revolutions)
• Role of federalism, church/state in Mexico

JOURNALS DUE

 

Tuesday

Economic and Political Change in Mexico

• Cardenas to Fox (excepts from 60 Minutes interview with Fox)
• Pendulum Theory during PRI, Mexican Miracle, ISI, Neoliberalism

 

Wednesday

Political Culture in Mexico 

§Civil Society 

• Cleavages in Mexico

           

Thursday

Political Institutions—the 1917 Constitution

• The sexenio, presedencilismo    
• Elites, Camarillas, and Patron Client relationships in Mexico

 

Friday

Work on Semester Presentations

 

Monday

Public Policies in Mexico

·Human rights, narcopoliticos, migration, corruption, environment

·NAFTA and Globalization’s Effects on Mexico 

 

UNIT IV—Mexico

Key Concepts:

Impact of colonialism, religion on political culture.  Patron client relationships, electoral reform, political parties (PRI, PAN, PRD). camarillas, economic disparities, leadership transition, globalization and NAFTA

 

To understand:

1. the role of revolutions in Mexico
2. the role of elites in Mexico
3. how Mexico democratized
4. how Fox ascended to power.
5. Mexico’s social and ethnic divisions.
6. yhe emergence of the Mexican economy with implications and consequences of growth.
7. social and environmental issues.
8. governmental performance and legitimacy issues of the Mexican government.
9. the structure and functions of the Mexican political system
10. Globalization and its effects  in Mexico

 

Mexico Review Terms

 

Caciques

Camarilla

Corporatism

Dedazo 

Dependency Theory

Maquiladora

Mestizo

Newly Industrializing Country

Non-Reelection

Patron Client

Pendulum Effect

Political Centralism

Presidencialismo

Sexeno

Technicos v. Los Dinosarios

Third World

 

 

Cardenas

Calderon

Lopez Obrador

De la Madrid

Porfirio Diaz

Salinas

Zedillo

Fox

Subcommandante Marcos

 

Chiapas

Confederation of Mexican Workers

Federal Election Institute

PRI

PAN

PRD
Senate

Chamber of Deputies

Presidency

Zapatistas

 

 

Required Reading:

• Briefing Paper on Nigeria
• Chapter 13 in Almond and Powell

 

Unit V: Key Concepts (not exhaustive)

Prebendalism, petropolitics, corruption, Yoruba, Ijaw, Hausa Fulani, Igbo, Obasanjo, Abacha, 1960, Biafra, Niger Delta, federalism, sha’ria, Islam, census, military regimes, coups

 

Tuesday

Intro to Nigeria: Ethno-nationalism, Rising Civil Strife, Human Rights, Corruption

• Political History, Political Culture, and Key Concepts

 

Wednesday

Transition to Democracy in Nigeria

• Coups, conflict, and constitutions
• 1999 Constitution and Obasanjo

 

Thursday

Petropolitics and Prebendalism: Oil and Corruption in Nigeria

 

Friday

 

Monday

 

Tuesday

Political Institutions in Nigeria

Wednesday

M.E.N.D and the Niger Delta

Sha’ria, Federalism, and the “National Question” in Nigeria

 

Thursday

Elections in Nigeria—A look at Participation,

Presidential Elections, and the 2007 Election

 

 

Nigeria Objectives:

 

To understand:

1. Nigeria’s path toward democracy
2. Ethnicity, region, and religion in Nigeria
3. The federal character of the Nigerian nation-state
4. the consequence of colonialism and British rule
5. the origins of the Biafran civil war
6. how Obasanjo has implemented the transition to democracy
7. the effects of globalization on Nigeria
8. the conflict in the Niger Delta
9. the institutions of the Nigerian government
10. the role of the military in Nigeria
11. the effects of corruption and prebendalism on Nigeria’s politics
12. oil in Nigeria

 

 

Terms for Nigeria

 

Accountability

Civil Society

Constitutionalism

Corporatism

Cultural diffusion

“federal character”

Sani Abacha

Moshood Abiola

Abdulsalami Abubakar

Abuja

Ibrahim Babangida

Biafra

Cleintism

Parton Client network

ECOWAS
Hausa, Hausa Fulani

Igbo

Independent Election Commission

Military

National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers

Neocolonial

Nigerian National Oil Corporation

Olusegun Obasanjo

OPEC

Revenue sharing

Saro-Wiwa, Ken

Shari’a

Structural Adjustment Program

Yoruba

 

 

Required Readings:

• Briefing Paper from College Board on Iran
• Chapter 14 in Almond and Powell
• Sean Penn’s articles from Iranian Presidential Election in 2005
• Selected articles from The Economist

 

Friday

Iran Intro and Overview

• Regional power, “axis of evil”, competing sources of authority,
• Paradoxes in Iran: Democracy and Theocracy         

Read 457-468

 

Monday

Iran Political Institutions

The Islamic Republic

• Contrast Shar’ia Law in Iran and Nigeria
• Contrast role of Islam in Russia, UK, and China

Read 468-482

 

 

Tuesday

Citizen Participation and Elections in Iran

• 97 and 2004/05 Elections
• The State of Democracy in Iran
• View scenes from “Forbidden Iran” http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/iran/

Read 483-494

 

Wednesday

Economic and Political Change in Iran

1979 Revolution and Comparisons

Read 494-499

 

Thursday

Policy Issues in Iran

• Gender in Iran: Reading Lolita in Tehran and Shirin Ebadi

 

Friday

Iran and the West

Going Nuclear in Iran

• Watch excerpts from Frontline World 
• http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/iran403/watch.html

 

Monday

Iran, Mexico, and Nigeria Test

 

IRAN TERMS

 

 

Mahmound Ahmadinjad

Assembly of Religious Experts

“axis of evil”

Basij

Shirin Ebadi

Majlies/Iranian Parliament

Constitution of 1979

Constitutional revolution of 1905-09

Iranian President

Iranian Cabinet

Guardian Council

Supreme Leader

Ayatollah Khomeini

Ayatollah Khameini 

Jurist’s Guardianship—Velayat-e Faqih 

Iran-Iraq War

“Multiple Power Centers”

Assembly of Religious Experts

Expediency Council

Elections of 97 and 2005

Elections of 2004

Shia Islam

Sunni Islam

Shari’a Law

Twelver Shiism

Tudeh Party 

Persia

White Revolution

Reza Shah

Muhammed Mossadeq

Rentier State

Import Substitution Industrialization

Revolution of 1979

Theocratic Republic

Divine right and popular sovereignty

Revolutionary Guard

Akbar Hasemi Rafsanjani