INTS 200-01, Introduction to Comparative Politics, Spring 2008

Abstract

This course provides an introduction to the study of domestic politics and governments around the world. We will discuss the core concepts and themes of comparative politics and pose a number of questions: What explains the emergence of democracy in some nations (and not others)? How do different types of political regimes affect the lives of ordinary people? Why do political institutions vary across countries, and how do these differences shape outcomes? Why does ethnic diversity sometimes lead to violent conflict? We will shed light on these and other questions by examining diverse country cases, including Chile, China, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom, among others. You also will have the opportunity to do independent research on a country of particular interest to you.