Comparative Politics (IR407) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Comparative Politics IR407 Elective Courses 3 0 0 3 4
Pre-requisite Course(s)
N/A
Course Language English
Course Type Elective Courses
Course Level Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery Face To Face
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Demonstration, Discussion, Question and Answer, Drill and Practice, Observation Case Study.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Özgün Tursun
Course Assistants
Course Objectives To learn basics of comparative methodology and to be able to apply these tools in a proper research design.
Course Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • To have knowledge on comparative politics.
  • To learn about comparable political factors.
  • To develop students’ key skills in: studying, understanding and discussing conceptual and theoretical issues; applying concepts and theories in the analysis of comparative politics; writing and presenting their analyses on specific matters; and participating in group discussions.
Course Content A general development of comparative politics; comparative methodology; significant political issues such as welfare states, party structures, election systems, unitary-federal states, political economy.

Weekly Subjects and Releated Preparation Studies

Week Subjects Preparation
1 A General Introduction to the Course None
2 The development of the modern state Textbook Chapter 1
3 States and democracy Textbook Chapter 2
4 Democratic change and persistence Textbook Chapter 3
5 Constitutions Textbook Chapter 4
6 Presidential and parliamentary government Textbook Chapter 5
7 Multi-level government: international, national and sub-national Textbook Chapter 6
8 Midterm Exam None
9 Policy making and legislating: executives and legislatures Textbook Chapter 7
10 Political attitudes and behaviour Textbook Chapter 9
11 Pressure groups and social movements Textbook Chapter 10
12 The mass media Textbook Chapter 11
13 Voters and elections Textbook Chapter 12
14 Political ideologies in the West: conservatism, liberalism, Christian democracy and socialism Textbook Chapter 14
15 The future of the democratic state Textbook Chapter 18
16 Final Exam None

Sources

Other Sources 1. Munck Gerardo L (2007), “The Past and Present of Comparative Politics,” in Passion, Craft and Method in Comparative Politics, eds. G.L. Munck ve R. Synder, 32-59.
2. Lichbach Mark Irving ve Alan S. Zuckerman (2009), Comparative Politics: Rationality, Culture and Structure, 6-16.
3. Wiarda Howard (2002), “Comparative Politics: Past and Present,” in New Directions in Comparative Politics, 3-25.
4. Verba Sidney (2002), “Comparative Politics: Where have we been, where are we Going?” in New Directions in Comparative Politics, 26-38.
5. Neumann Sigmund (1957), “Comparative Politics: A Half Century Appraisal,” The Journal of Politics, 19:3, 369-90.
6. McMichael Philip (1990), “Incorporating Comparison within a World-Historical Perspective: An Alternative Comparative Method,” American Sociological Review, 55:3, 385-97.
7. McMichael Philip (1992), “Rethinking Comparative Analysis in a post-developmentalist Context,” International Social Science Journal, no: 133, 351-65.
8. Tilly Charles (1984), Big Structures, Large Processes, Huge Comparisons.
9. Skocpol Theda ve Margaret Somers (1980), “The Uses of Comparative History in Macrosocial Inquiry,” Society for Comparative Study of Society and History.
Course Book 10. Kenneth Newton and Jan W. van Deth. Foundations of Comparative Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Evaluation System

Requirements Number Percentage of Grade
Attendance/Participation 1 10
Laboratory - -
Application - -
Field Work - -
Special Course Internship - -
Quizzes/Studio Critics - -
Homework Assignments - -
Presentation - -
Project - -
Report - -
Seminar - -
Midterms Exams/Midterms Jury 2 50
Final Exam/Final Jury 1 40
Toplam 4 100
Percentage of Semester Work 60
Percentage of Final Work 40
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

The Relation Between Course Learning Competencies and Program Qualifications

# Program Qualifications / Competencies Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
2 1- Acquiring the skills of understanding, explaining, and using the fundamental concepts and methodology of international relations. X
3 2- Acquiring the skills of analyzing international relations from a theoretical level. X
4 3- Acquiring the ability to make logical interpretations about the recent either global or national political events. X
5 4- Acquiring different perspectives on Turkey’s relationship with the other states. X
6 5- Improving the ability to make logical predictions about the future prospects of Turkey and the world states. X
7 6- Developing relevant academic and applied research skills in political areas. X
8 7- Improving the ability to use the modern software, hardware and/or technological devices. X
9 8- Developing in-disciplinary and interdisciplinary teamwork skills. X
10 9- Acquiring an open-minded behavior through encouraging critical analysis, interpretation, discussions, and/or continuous learning. X
11 10- Adopting work ethic and social responsibility. X
12 11- Developing the skills of communication. X
13 12- Improving the ability to effectively develop arguments in both Turkish and English. X

ECTS/Workload Table

Activities Number Duration (Hours) Total Workload
Course Hours (Including Exam Week: 16 x Total Hours) 16 3 48
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 16 2 32
Presentation/Seminar Prepration
Project
Report
Homework Assignments
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 1 10 10
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury 1 10 10
Total Workload 100