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

Political Science and International Relations
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 Overview for the Midterm Exam
8 Political Economy
9 Political Economy: Case Studies (Algeria, Nigeria and Libya)
10 Religion and Politics
11 Religion and Politics: Case Study (Iran)
12 Problems of Development
13 Problems of Development: Case Study (Nigeria)
14 Overview for the Final Exam

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


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

The rating scale that will be used in the evaluation of the presentations:

Subject knowledge and ability to respond to questions: demonstrate detailed knowledge about the subject chosen for research and possess the ability to effectively respond to the questions (30 points). No grasp of the subject and no ability to respond to the questions with respect to the conducted research Poor (0 %).Uncomfortable with the subject and ability to respond to the questions weakly and poorly possessed Fair (40%).Ease with the subject and ability to respond to the questions sufficiently possessed but lacking a clear and analytical vision Good (60%).Very good knowledge of the subject and ability to respond to the questions well-possessed with a clear and analytical vision Very good (80%).Excellent knowledge of the subject and ability to respond to the questions professionally-possessed with a clear and analytical vision Excellent (100%).

Organization and coherence of the content: provide an organized and coherent analysis of the conducted research (25 points).Lacks organization and coherence of the content Poor (0%).Organization and coherence of the content weakly and poorly established Fair (40%).Organization and coherence of the content established but lacking a full coverage of the subject Good (60%).Organization and coherence of the content sufficiently established, fully covering the subject Very good (80%).Organization and coherence of the content professionally established fully covering the subject Excellent (100%).

Literature review: provide a comprehensive literature review by making use of both national and international resources for the research conducted (25 points). No literature review with regard to the study conducted Poor (0%).Literature review weakly and poorly provided Fair (40%).Literature review sufficiently provided but lacking a comprehensive conduct Good (60%).Literature review well-provided with a comprehensive research Very good (80%).Literature review professionally provided with an in-depth research Excellent (100%).

Design of the slides and effective use of variables, images and other details: provide well-designed slides supported by relevant variables, images and other details (10 points).Use of superfluous slides or no slides Poor (0%).Poor slides design and occasional use of variables, images and other details Fair (40%).Sufficient slides design including variables, images and other details Good (60%).Very good slides design supported by variables, images and other details Very good (80%).Well-designed slides effectively supported by variables, images and other details Excellent (100%).

Time management: present conducted research within the allocated time (10 points).Lacks time management Poor (0%).Fair time management Fair (40%).Good time management Good (60%).Very good time management Very good (80%).Excellent time management Excellent (100%).


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 14 3 42
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) 145

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