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Course Code: 
PSIR 221
Course Period: 
Autumn
Course Type: 
Core
P: 
3
Application: 
0
Credits: 
3
ECTS: 
6
Prerequisite Courses: 
Course Language: 
İngilizce
Course Objectives: 

Informing the participants of different political systems and providing them with the skills required to compare and contrast these systems constitute the basic objectives of the course.

Course Content: 

Throughout the course, the students will be encouraged to compare  and contrast a multiplicity of political systems in line with variables  such as political institutions, political culture and patterns of political participation.

Course Methodology: 
1: Lecture, 2: Discussion based lecture, 3: Case Study
Course Evaluation Methods: 
A: Examination, D: Discussion

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

 

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

 

Teaching Methods

 

Assessment Methods

The students will be able to continuously recall and retrieve the information they have obtained by studying political institutions in the first year of their studies.

2, 6, 7

2,3

D

The participants of the course will acquire the skills required to compare and contrast various  political systems with regards to their political institutions,  political processes and political culture.

1,2, 3, 8,

9, 11, 13,

16

1, 2, 3

A, D

In this effort, the students will be able to classify political systems around the world with the objectives of identifying patterns that hold across a variety of political systems and spotting the differences displayed by these systems.

1, 2, 3, 6,

7, 8, 9, 11,

13, 16

1, 2, 3

A, D

Upon the successful completion of the course, the students will be able to describe and account for the essential characteristics of a multitude of  political systems  around  the  world,  including  the  defining and distinguishing features of the systems discussed.

1, 2, 3, 6,

7, 8, 9, 11,

13, 16

1, 2, 3

A

Through various case studies, the course will enable the participants to apply the information they obtained in surveying the literature.

7, 14

3

A, D

In undertaking comparisons throughout the course,    the students will be prepared for the ‘regional studies’ track in the final year of their studies.

2, 3, 7, 8,

9, 11, 13,

1, 2, 3

A, D

Course Flow

Week

Topics

Study Materials

1

Introduction- The objectives and organization of the course

 

 

2

Variables used in comparative political inquiry

Powell, Dalton and Strøm, Chapter 2

 

3

‘The Industrialized Democracies’- common and distinguishing features

 

Hauss, Chapter 2

 

4

‘The Industrialized Democracies’- Political institutions: legislatures, executives, judiciaries, election systems, political party systems, administrative organization of states

Powell, Dalton and Strøm, Chapter 6

 

 

5

 

 

‘The Industrialized Democracies’- Case study: The United States

Powell, Dalton and Strøm, Chapter 19;

Hauss, Chapter 3

 

 

6

 

 

‘The Industrialized Democracies’- Case study: The United Kingdom

Powell, Dalton and Strøm, Chapter 8;

Hauss, Chapter 4

 

 

7

 

 

‘The Industrialized Democracies’- Case studies: the continent of Europe

Powell, Dalton and Strøm, Chapters 9 and

10; Hauss,

Chapters 5 and 6

 

8

‘The Former Communist Political Systems’- common and distinguishing features

 

Hauss, Chapter 8

 

9

‘The Former Communist Political Systems’- Political institutions: legislatures, executives, judiciaries, election systems, political party systems, administrative organization of states

Potter, Goldblatt, Kiloh and Lewis, Chapter 16

 

 

10

 

‘The Former Communist Political Systems’- Case study: the Russian Federation

Powell, Dalton and Strøm, Chapter 12;

Hauss, Chapter 9

 

11

 

‘The Global South’ - common and distinguishing features

Hauss, Chapter 11

 

12

‘The Global South’- Political institutions: legislatures, executives, judiciaries, election systems, political party systems, administrative organization of states

 

Diamond

 

13

 

African and Middle Eastern Political Systems

Lynch and Crawford; Yom, and Gause

 

14

 

Latin American and Asian Political Systems

Potter, Goldblatt, Kiloh and Lewis, Chapters 6 and 7

 

15

 

Review of the topics covered

 

Recommended Sources

 

 

Textbooks

Powell, G. B. , Dalton, R.J. and Strøm, K. (2011), Comparative Politics Today: A World View,  Longman

 

Hauss, C. (2012), Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, Wadsworth

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

Diamond, L. (2012), ‘The Coming Wave’, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 23, No. 1

 

Lynch, G. And Crawford, G. (2011), ‘Democratization in Africa 1990- 2010: An Assessment’, Democratization, Vol. 18, Issue 2

 

Potter,    D.,    Goldblatt,     D.,    Kiloh,    M.    and    Lewis,    P.    (1997), Democratization, The Open University,, Chapters 6, 7, and 16

 

Yom, S. L. and Gause, G. F. (2012), ‘Resilient Royals: How Arab Monarchies Hang On’, Journal of Democracy, Vol 23, No. 4

Material Sharing

Exams

Mid-term and final examinations (lectures, class discussions and recommended sources)

Assessment

IN-TERM STUDIES

NUMBER

PERCENTAGE

Mid-term examination

1

40

Attendance

-

5

Participation in class discussions

-

5

Total

 

50

CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE

 

1

 

50

CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE

 

-

 

50

Total

 

100

COURSE CATEGORY

Expertise/Field Courses

Course’s Contribution to Program

No

Program Learning Outcomes

Contribution

1

2

3

4

5

 

 

1

Students will demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of Political Science and International Relations as well as other related disciplines such as Law, Economics and Sociology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

2

Students will interpret the structure, institutions and operation  of national, international and supranational entities via utilization of the concepts and theories of Political Science  and  International relations and produce project reports that include possible solutions to problems of such institutions when necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

3

Students will demonstrate that they have developed a comparative, analytical and interdisciplinary approach vis-à-vis human societies and political systems.

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

4

Students will have improved their skills and awareness of personal responsibility and team membership through  conducting group or independent research projects, doing internships and producing their graduation dissertations.

 

X

 

 

 

 

Students   will   demonsrate   proficiency   in   quantitative    and

5     qualitative data collections methods.

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

Students will prove their understanding of the rapidly-evolving dynamics of national and global environments requires constant self-assessment, life-long learning, and the ability to formulate innovative solutions to maintain their personal and professional development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

7

Students should be able to critically evaluate the body of knowledge in political science, assess self-competency and direct self-learning efforts accordingly.

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Students will implement written and oral communication skills  in

8     English and Turkish in both academic and professional settings.

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

9

Students should be able to effectively demonstrate their knowledge of written, oral and reading skills in English both in international institutional settings and follow and interpret the global dynamics of the International Relations discipline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

10

 

11

 

12

 

13

Students will demonstrate their social skills and experience required by public or private institutions or in the academia.

 

 

X

 

 

Students will show empathy and respect towards societies other than one’s own.

 

 

 

 

X

Students should be able to effectively utilize computer and information technologies commonly-used in the social sciences.

X

 

 

 

 

Students will interpret domestic and international developments and express opinions, having acquired advanced knowledge  and proficiency in the via communication with international scholars and students.

 

 

 

X

 

14

Students will respect personal, social and academic ethical norms.

 

 

 

 

X

 

15

Students should understand the personal, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility, and show duties of active and global citizenship.

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Students should know that universality of social-political and legal rights and social justice are the principle components of contemporary society, and that scientific thinking is an essential prerequisite for maintaining social advancement and global competitiveness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

ECTS

Activities

Quantity

Duration (Hour)

Total Workload (Hour)

Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)

16

3

48

Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)

16

3

48

Mid-terms

1

15

15

Final examination

1

15

15

Homework

3

8

24

Total Work Load

 

 

150

Total Work Load / 25 (h)

 

 

6

ECTS Credit of the Course

 

 

6

2