COURSE UNIT TITLE

Offered By

International Relations (English)

Level of Course Unit

Second Cycle Programmes (Master's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR GÜL MEHPARE KURTOĞLU ESKIŞAR

Offered to

International Relations (English)

Course Objective

The aim of the course is to introduce the students to an understanding of Comparative Politics. The focus of the course will be on different approaches of comparative politics such as democracy and democratization; authoritarianism and its variants such as power and state fomation and its institutions and research traditions in comparative politics such as structure, culture and rational choice.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Recomended or Required Reading

1. Michael Sodaro, Comparative Politics, A Global Introduction, New York: McGraw Hill, 2008.
2. Samuel Huntington, The Third Wave, Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century, Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.
3. Larry Diamond et al., Consolidating the Third Wave Democracies, Themes and Perspectives, Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University, 1997.
4. Juan L. Linz and Alfred Stepan, Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation, Southern Europe, South America, and Post-Communist Europe, Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996.
5. Müge Aknur, (eds) Democratic Consolidation in Turkey, Florida, Boca Raton: Universal Publishers, 2012.
6. M. I. Lichbach and A. S. Zuckerman (eds) Comparative Politics, Rationality, Culture, and Structure, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Lecture
2. Individual work (writing and presenting a paper)
3. Group Work (Writing and presenting a report as a group)
4. Participation in class discussion
5. Exams

Assessment Methods

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

15 percent of the final exam (which is 40 percent) will be allocated to the term assignment which is consisted of a long paper and a presentation.

Assessment Criteria

At the end of the course the student will
1. Demonstrate an understanding of issues and approaches of comparative politics.
2. Analyze different issues of comparative politics such as democracy and democratization, authoritarianism, state formation, institutions of the state.
3. Analyze political outcomes in specific countries through comparative politics issues and approaches.
4. Work effectively individually or as a group
5. Demonstrate analytical skills in designing and writing a research paper.
6. Demonstrate high communication skills in presenting a paper.
7. Acquire skills to use library and internet sources.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Students are expected to come to class well-prepared by reading all the articles and book chapters assigned for the week.
2. Attendance and Participation is compulsory
3. If for any reason the student cannot attend the class, he/she will inform the instructor prior to class
4. Plagiarism of any type will result with disciplinary action.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

muge.aknur@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

To be announced.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes