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POL 252

I. TITLE: Contemporary Political Systems

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides the student with comparative and evaluative concepts and approaches necessary to developing an intelligent understanding and appreciation of the world's diverse political systems.

III. PURPOSE:
This course contributes to the excellence of a Murray State graduate by developing the knowledge and skills set as goals to be achieved and defined as the "Characteristics of the Murray State Graduate."

Specifically, students will be expected to:
1. engage in mature, independent thought and express that thought effectively in oral and written communication;
2. develop an understanding of the critical and scientific methodologies employed in Political Science to discover knowledge and ascertain its validity;
3. apply sound standards of analysis and evaluation to reach logical decisions;
4.acquire a general understanding of the world's historical, cultural, and philosophical traditions;
5. examine the dynamics of cultural diversity, of competing economic and political systems, and of complex moral and ethical issues;
6. understand the nature of responsible citizenship and pursue an active role in a democratic society; and
7. for a major or minor, develop mastery of their chosen field of study.

IV. OBEJECTIVES:
A specific objective of this course is to involve the student in the learning/educational process.  Students learn best when they are actively involved.  Classroom discussions based on the lecture material, the assigned readings, classroom presentations, and developments in the international community are encouraged and expected.

In addition, graduates of Murray State must have the tools to continue the learning process for a lifetime.  Among the educational tools developed in this class and necessary for life-long learning are the ability to think critically and to effectively communicate in written and oral form.  Examination questions are designed to evaluate and develop in the student critical thinking skills.  Also, each student will be evaluated on oral and written presentations.

The student is also expected to utilize new and continually changing technology especially the Internet, a powerful tool for gathering information about almost anything.  It offers up-to-the-minute world news, a wealth of official statistical and other data, reports issued by academics, governments, and independent bodies, and discussion groups on almost any topic.  For the written and oral presentations, the use of modern technological sources is expected.
Finally, this course is designed to develop a better understanding of the contemporary international scene.  By using a comparative approach which steers away from propagandists terms the student of world politics can make more precise observations and conclusions relating to the different social and political phenomena existing in the world community.

In the course the student is introduced to the fundamental concepts and methods of analysis associated with the study of comparative politics.  For example, the concepts of political systems, structural-functional analysis, political culture, political socialization, interest articulation, political parties, and forms of government are discussed.  The course is also devoted to an analysis of different countries to develop an understanding of the political variations that exist in the modern world.

V. CONTENT OUTLINE:
1. Comparative Political Analysis
2. Political Culture - Factors Shaping Political Behavior
    -History; Geography; Economic Systems and Economic Development;      Social, Cultural, and Philosophical Influences
3. Political Process - Political Behavior
    -Interest Aggregation and Articulation, Leadership Selection
    -Political Socialization
    -Role of the People
    -The Election System
    -The Role of the Media
    -Interest Groups and Political Parties
    -The Role of the Bureaucracy and the Military
4. Political Institutions - Allocation of Resources/Values
    -Constitutionalism and Civil Rights/Liberties
    -Vertical and Horizontal Separation or Fusion of Powers
    -Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Systems
    -The Bureaucracy
5. Public Policy - Governmental Outputs
    -Order
    -External Security
    -Resolution of Competitive Demands
    -Raise Money to Pay for Programs
    -Regulate Behavior
    -Provide Services
6. Specific Countries
    -United Kingdom, France, Germany
    -Russia
    -China and Japan
    -Selected Countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle   East (will vary each semester depending upon student
      preference)

VI. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Various teaching strategies and instructional activities are employed in this class.  There are times and conditions in which lecturing is simply unavoidable, necessary, and appropriate.  This is especially the case with the concepts portions of this course.  Classroom discussion is anticipated and expected.  Audio-visual materials are also used.  Each student is also responsible for an oral presentation and the submission of a research project that requires the use of computer and library resources.

VII. FIELD AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES: N/A

VIII. RESOURCES:
Primary resources include the University Library, computers/computer labs, and assigned readings.
Required readings are the textbooks:
Hauss, Charles, Comparative Politics, 2nd ed., 1997
Soe, Christian, Comparative Politics, Annual Editions, 1997/98

IX. GRADING PROCEDURES:
The student is responsible for completing the assigned readings, attending classroom lectures, contributing to classroom discussions, making an oral presentation, completing a country analysis, and reading, listening, and/or watching outside news sources to keep current on events relating to the international political scene.  Each student is responsible for knowing of major political developments and events taking place in the international community that occur during the semester.

75% of the student's final grade is determined by the performance on the three examinations, including the final, given during the semester.  The major exams will be based on the classroom activities including lectures, classroom discussions, oral presentations, current developments in the international community and assigned readings.  Please refer to the reading assignment for a tentative schedule of examinations.  Each exam will include an essay portion that will require a critical examination of the ideas being considered and an identification component requiring recall and memorization.  Other types of testing format may be used.  Final determination on the exact format of the tests will be determined and explained in class.  After each examination, a letter grade will be assigned based on the traditional scale:  100%-90%=A;  89%-80%=B;  79%-70%=C;  69%-60%=D;  59%-below=E.  While the regular final will not be comprehensive, each student will be required to take a comprehensive assessment examination at the end of the semester.

In the event a student misses a major examination, a makeup will be given at the convenience of both the student and the instructor.  The makeup will be essay in form and cover the same assigned materials.

In addition, each student is responsible for researching and presenting in oral and written form an analysis of a selected county using a standardized comparative model.   Country assignments will be made early in the semester.  Exact details of this project and the time schedule will be worked out in class.  Each report will be evaluated on promptness, professionalism, content/subject matter, and bibliography.  The oral presentation and the written report will be graded and together count 20% of the final grade.

5% of the final grade will be based on classroom participation.  Classroom participation is an integral part of this course.  Since each student is expected to keep current on developments in the international community, classroom discussion could center on significant events taking place anywhere but most especially in the assigned countries.  Also it is anticipated that from the reading students will find ideas of some interest and they will raise these issued in class for discussion.  After each classroom session, the contributions of each student will be recorded.

Extra work may not be done to improve a student's grade.  The student is urged to devote more time in preparing for exams given later in the semester to improve his/her grade.

If a student is forced to miss a classroom lecture, it is up to the student to get the notes from another student; and then if there are any questions, the student is urged to contact the instructor.

X. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
No specific requirement is made concerning classroom attendance beyond the requirements of the University.  HOWEVER, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND CLASS AND PARTICIPATE IN CLASS DISCUSSION.  A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ABSENCES OR LACK OF CLASS PARTICIPATION WILL RESULT IN THE LOWERING OF A STUDENT'S GRADE.

XI. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: See attached.

XII. TEXT AND REFERENCES: Please refer to VIII above.

XIII. PREREQUISITES: None

XIV. OTHER ISSUES:
Students requiring special assistance due to a disability should inform the instructor as soon as possible.

The above materials are designed as a general guideline.  Experience has shown that individual classes may require special attention and that some deviation in the above procedures may be necessary.  Consequently, the instructor reserves the right to make those adjustments that he feels will be helpful to the individual students and to the class as a while.  Any adjustments made pursuant to this paragraph must be made as an exercise of reasonable discretion and consistent with fundamental fairness.

Last updated February 8, 2000. Designed and maintained by Kyosung Koo