An introduction explaining why you chose the things you chose to include in your portfolio. Ten pages of independent writing on topics related to comparative politics and government. These may include...

1. An introduction explaining why you chose the things you chose to include in your portfolio.


2. Ten pages of independent writing on topics related to comparative politics and government. These may include writings of different lengths (10 one page essays, 5 two pagers, 3 three page +1 one page etc. Do not include one long paper.) These should be done throughout the semester. They may include analyses or reactions to current events, opinion pieces on controversial issues, assessments of candidates, officials or movements, reactions to class discussions, videos or activities or anything relevant to the course.


3. A conclusion describing what you learned in the course and identifying how the writing in your portfolio contributed to that learning.

eCCP-14, RW-7Portfolio due (4/29)


COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT Syllabus Instructor: Dr. Michael Heffren Howard Community College Telephone: (443) 518-4564 Spring 2021 E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: E-Mail or Zoom by appt.) Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is to explore the relationship between political ideology and state structure in a variety of political settings. The course will be structured around four emerging political developments: globalization, the emergence of post-communist states, the rise of the neoliberal state in the developing world, and the growth of oppositional movements such as anti-globalization, anarchism, and Islamism in response. Students will examine a number of different forms of government, will assess the strengths and weaknesses of each, and will investigate the impact of cultural context on political ideas and institutions. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Summarize critically the characteristics of a variety of different types of national government and the major issues that drive politics in a number of different national settings. 2. Analyze critically major issues of comparative government and politics, identify their assumptions, explore contrasting positions, and arrive at their own positions on these issues. 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving government and politics. 4. Apply political theory and use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving government and politics to controversies in comparative government or politics to draw conclusions about resolving them. 5. Analyze the typical state forms in the advanced capitalist democracies and demonstrate how they have been transformed by the globalization process. 6. Explore the nature of emerging post-communist states. 7. Explain the relationship between globalization and neoliberalism in the developing countries. 8. Analyze the emerging political critiques of globalization including anti-globalism, anarchism, green politics, subcultural nationalism, and neo-fascism. Texts: Cases in Comparative Politics by Patrick O’Neil, Karl Fields, and Don Share (CCP) Globalization and Comparative Politics: a Reader/Workbook edited by Michael Heffren (RW) (on Canvas) Course Schedule Week ofTopicAssignment 2/2Introduction/ Comparative PoliticsCCP-1 2/9GlobalizationRW-1 2/16NeoliberalismRW-2 2/23Third Way Politics/Right-wing PopulismRW-3 3/2European Democracy-EnglandCCP-2, 3/9European Democracy-FranceCCP-4 3/16European Democracy-GermanyCCP-5 Case Study Due 3/23Exam/Post-Communism 3/30RussiaCCP-7, RW-4 4/6Spring Break 4/13 ChinaCCP-8, RW-5 4/20 Mexico/Latin American Populism CCP-11, RW-6` 4/27Nigeria/National Security StateCCP-14, RW-7Portfolio due (4/29)   5/4 Politics of the Middle East/Iran RW-8, CCP-10 5/11Review 5/13Final Exam (10:30 am.) Evaluation:Midterm 20% Final20% Case Study20% Portfolio20% Weekly Journals20% Grade Calculation: I use letter grades in calculating course grades. For each of the six elements on which you are graded, you will receive a letter grade. For example: Midterm C FinalD Case StudyB PortfolioF RW/ JournalsA In calculating your course grade, I then convert each of these to a number, as is done when calculating GPA. I then add these up and divide by five For example: Midterm C = 2A = 3.5 or higher FinalD = 1B = 2.5- 3.49 Case StudyB = 3C = 1.5- 2.49 Weekly JournalsA = 4D = .5- 1.49 PortfolioF = 0 F = less than .5 ___ 10/5 =2 We would then find that number in the chart on the right. 2.0 would give this person a C for the course. Exams: Exams will cover readings and class material including class discussions, videos shown in class or any other aspect of the class experience. On pain of death, do not even think of missing an exam. There will be no make-up exams except in cases which have been approved beforehand by the instructor. This will only be done in the case of medical emergency. Weekly Journals: You will hand in a one to two-page journal entry each week. This will be a response to some questions about that week’s readings. Journal entries must be submitted in person on the day they are due. No late entries will be accepted. Journal entries must be typed/double-spaced. Journal will be graded on the following basis: Answers that reflect good understanding of the material= 2 Answers that reflect poor understanding =1 Missing =0 Total grade for the Weekly journal will be based on the following scale: A=18-20 B=16-17 C=14-15 D=12-13 F=11 or less Case Study. Student will research and write a 5-page case study of a government not covered in class.  Paper should include discussion of the principal ideologies of the state in question, its governmental structure, and the most important elements of its recent politics.  This paper should deal with a contemporary case, not a historical one, although obviously historical analysis may be necessary to make sense of the current situation. 1. Students should identify and organize information about the government and contemporary politics of their case. 2. Students should explore the unique nature of the political and governmental system of the country and explore why these elements were chosen and not others. 3. Students should analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the policies of the government of their case and analyze the principal political issues. 4. Student should draw comparisons with their case to others both similar and different. 5. Apply a strategy for finding information of your topic.  Use databases, indexes, and the library catalog to find information on your topic.  Be creative in exploring the references available through the HCC library. 6. Don’t just accept the first sources you come upon.  Evaluate your sources.   Are they reputable?   Are they peer-reviewed?  Are they produced by people or organizations particular viewpoints or positions?  That doesn’t mean you can’t use them, but you should be aware of and take into consideration any bias they contain. 7. Be sure to use your references in an ethical and appropriate way.  Cite all sources properly.  The point of citing is not just to give credit to those whose ideas you are using (though that is important) but also to give the reader the opportunity to read further and learn more from your work.  If you are unsure or have doubts about a source, note that so your reader can proceed with caution.   Portfolio. Assemble a portfolio to demonstrate what you have learned in this course. The portfolio must contain the following elements: 1. An introduction explaining why you chose the things you chose to include in your portfolio. 2. Ten pages of independent writing on topics related to comparative politics and government. These may include writings of different lengths (10 one page essays, 5 two pagers, 3 three page +1 one page etc. Do not include one long paper.) These should be done throughout the semester. They may include analyses or reactions to current events, opinion pieces on controversial issues, assessments of candidates, officials or movements, reactions to class discussions, videos or activities or anything relevant to the course. 3. A conclusion describing what you learned in the course and identifying how the writing in your portfolio contributed to that learning. Canvas: This course uses a Canvas supplemental website. You can find a copy of the syllabus, power point presentations of class notes, schedules of assignments, supplementary readings and videos, and records of your grades on various assignments. What you should not use Canvas for is to calculate your course grade. Canvas does this differently than I do. Rather, use the method described above to calculate your course grade. Course grades will be published on MyHCC. LATE PAPERS. Papers received up to one week late will be penalized one letter grade. Papers will not be accepted after one week. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Class Participation: Class participation is a very important element of this class. In an online class, participation means participating in online discussions, attending Zoom discussions and taking part and generally trying to contribute to your classmates and instructor’s learning. Attendance: In an online class, attendance means keeping up with reading and all assignments on a weekly basis. WEEKLY JOURNAL QUESTIONS   2/9 Answer questions for Section 1 in the Reader/Workbook. 2/16 Answer questions for Section 2 in the Reader/Workbook. 2/23Answer questions for Section 3 in the Reader/Workbook. 3/2What is parliamentary question time and what is the Prime Minister’s role in this process? Check out the Parliament web page (http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/parliament-government-and-politics/parliament/prime-ministers-questions/). What issues are currently highlighted?   3/9Which is the more powerful position in the French government, the President or the Prime Minister? Why do you think so? Look at the web page of the French President (http://www.elysee.fr/). What is the constitutional basis of that position?     3/16 Case Study Due 3/23Exam 3/30Answer questions for Section 4 in the Reader/Workbook. 4/6Spring Break 4/13Answer questions for Section 5 in the Reader/Workbook 4/20Answer questions for Section 6 in the Reader/Workbook 4/27Answer questions for Section 7 in the Reader/Workbook. 4/29Portfolio due   5/4Answer questions for Section 8 in the Reader/Workbook. 5/13Final Exam Statement on General Education and Liberal Learning A liberal education prepares students to lead ethical, productive, and creative lives and to understand how the pursuit of lifelong learning and critical thinking fosters good citizenship. General education courses form the core of a liberal education within the higher education curriculum and provide a coherent intellectual experience for