Course Description
This course aims to teach the process and structure of political systems, states and governments from a comparative perspective. Starting from political ideologies, regimes and state institutions, we will move toward the relationship between the citizen and the state (voting, organization of parties, interest groups). Drawing from comparative case studies, it is hoped that students will learn to think analytically about how politics function in a variety of settings and come to appreciate different ways to understand it. Towards this goal, classes will aim to both provide important background to the topics each week as well as to allow time for discussion of the readings.

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
–Understand the basic concepts, structures and theories used in comparative politics;
–Know the ways governments operate, are elected and formed in democratic and autocratic systems;
–Know the role of media and political movements and interest groups in the realm of politics, campaigns and policy formation;
–Critically apply the theoretical concepts onto various data sets within case studies and present their views in an oral presentation or a written essay.

*Course content subject to change