COURSE UNIT TITLE

: SELECTED TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
IRE 4117 SELECTED TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS ELECTIVE 3 0 0 6

Offered By

International Relations

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IREM AŞKAR KARAKIR

Offered to

International Relations

Course Objective

The main purpose of this course is to engage the learners in critical discussions on those topics and academic debates that are currently ongoing in the field of comparative politics and political science.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Improve the comprehension and familiarity of the learner with various issues on the agenda of comparative politics and political science by developing a multi-layered approach.
2   Examine the issues and debates taught inclass from a critical and analytical point of view.
3   Develop skills to make critical arguments.
4   Improve skills to make presentations.
5   Develop skills to engage in discussions with the rest of co-learners as well as the lecturer.
6   Develop skills to get access to the relevant academic and non-academic sources for political science and comparative politics (e.g. internet).

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction
2 What is comparative politics How and what to compare
3 Democratization
4 Democratization: Case Studies (Egypt & Tunisia)
5 Civil Society
6 Civil society: Case Studies (India & Saudi Arabia)
7 Political Economy
8 Political Economy: Case Studies (Algeria, Nigeria and Libya)
9 Religion and Politics
10 Religion and Politics: Case Study (Iran)
11 Problems of Development
12 Problems of Development: Case Study (Nigeria)

Recomended or Required Reading

Kenneth Newton & Jan W. Van Deth, Foundations of Comparative Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
John McCormick, Comparative Politics in Transition, Boston: Wadsworth, 2010.
Patrick H. ONeil, Essentials of Comparative Politics, New York: Norton & Company, 2010.
Peter Burnell & Vicky Randall (eds.), Politics in the Developing World, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1, Lecture
2. Group or Individual power-point presentations and participation
3. Exams

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 PRS Presentation
3 PRT Participation
4 FN Final
5 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MT * 0.35 + PRS * 0.20 + PRT * 0.10 + FN * 0.35
6 RST RESIT
7 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MT * 0.35 + PRS * 0.20 + PRT * 0.10 + BUT * 0.35


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1. The learner will describe and explain current issues and debates of comparative politics and political science.
2. The learner will critically analyze current issues and debates.
3. The learner will use IT knowledge to prepare presentations.
4. The learner will be able to express views in a clear, precise and self-confident manner.
5. The learner will be able to make critical arguments based on an analytical framework.
6. The learner will use library and internet sources

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attending at least 70 % of lectures is mandatory.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Participation in class discussions is mandatory.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

irem.askar@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

TBA.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 12 3 36
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 12 5 60
Preparation for midterm exam 1 12 12
Preparation for final exam 1 12 12
Preparing presentations 1 15 15
Midterm 1 1,5 2
Final 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 139

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13
LO.14
LO.24
LO.34
LO.45
LO.55
LO.64