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Catalog Description

Prerequisite: None • Skills Advisory: Eligibility for English 1. This course surveys the scope and methods of comparative political analysis. It examines the politics of democratic, authoritarian, and totalitarian political systems to illustrate the central theories and ideas in comparative politics. It emphasizes the political structures, processes, and cultures of countries at different levels of development in several world regions (e.g., Central and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South and East Asia, and West and Central Europe).

This course partially fulfills IGETC Area 4 (Social and Behavioral Sciences) requirements and is transferable to UC/CSU.

Textbooks

William A. Joseph, et. al. 2003. Introduction to Third World Politics, 3rd. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. REQUIRED

Howard Handelman. 2003. The Challenge of Third World Development, 3rd. ed. Upper River Saddle, N.J.: Prentice Hall. REQUIRED

Howard J. Wiarda. 2004. Political Development in Emerging Nations: Is There Still a Third World?. Belmont, CA.: Thomson/Wadsworth. REQUIRED

Grading

Student success in this class will require an ability to: (1) master important facts about the history and politics of various countries; (2) read and write English prose at the college level; and (3) apply analytical and critical thinking to historical and contemporary political issues.

Grades will be based on three exams and a final. The exams will comprise multiple choice questions and essays. Students should bring a Scantron Mini Essay Book, form no. 886-E, and a No. 2 pencil to class for the exams unless instructed otherwise. In addition, students must bring a Santa Monica College photo identification card for each exam; no student will be allowed to take an exam without an I.D.

Your exam essays will be graded on their substance and your ability to express yourself in clear, concise, grammatically correct, college level English prose. Students may use dictionaries with the permission of Dr. Buckley; electronic dictionaries are not permitted during exams.

The Final Exam will be conducted at a time scheduled by the College (see the College Exam Schedule as published in The Schedule of Classes). The exam will be cumulative and comprise multiple choice questions only. Many Final Exam questions will come from the first three exams. The Final will last approximately one hour; students arriving 30 minutes or more late for the Final Exam may not be allowed to take it. Bring a Scantron form 882 and a No. 2 pencil with you for the Final Exam.

Dr. Buckley will return graded exams as quickly as possible. Unclaimed exams will be retained for only two weeks, after which they will be discarded.

Each of the exams is worth 25 percent of your course grade. The exam schedule and reading assignments are listed below. Dates of the exams are tentative. A standard grade scale will be used. Make-up quizzes and exams will not be offered without a written request and documented evidence of an unavoidable emergency. The deadline for submitting a make-up request is 3 p.m., Wednesday, November 30. All make-ups without exception will be given on Friday, December 9, from 9:00-10:30am. Please note that make-up exams will be in a different form than the regular exams; make-ups comprise objective short-answer questions, which are generally much more difficult than multiple-choice and essay questions. In addition, extra credit assignments will not be offered and course grades of "I" (incomplete) will be given only in accordance with college policies.

Withdrawals from this class are the sole responsibility of the student. Students withdrawing after Sunday, October 23, will receive an "F" if they are not earning at least a "C" grade and no student may withdraw after Friday, November 18.

Participation in class discussions is encouraged but not graded as such. Students whose participation exceeds the expectations of the instructor may receive special consideration in "borderline" grade situations at the end of the semester. Tape recordings of the Lecture are not permitted without the prior permission of Dr. Buckley. Finally, students are bound by the College's Code of Academic Conduct and Reporting Policy (AR 5312.1-121791), a copy of which is available from the College Disciplinarian, Ms. Judith Penchansky, (310) 434-4655.

Dr. Buckley will be available in his office on Monday and Wednesday, 2 to 3 p.m., and on Tuesday from 7 to 11 a.m., or by appointment. Dr. Buckley is not available to meet students in-between classes.

Assignments Fall 2005

August 29 , Introduction to Comparative Politics, Joseph, et. al., Chap. 1; Handelman, Chap. 1; and Wiarda, Chap. 1; sample multiple choice questions.
August 31, Theories of Development, Wiarda, Chap. 2; study questions for Wiarda.
September 5, Labor Day--No Class
September 7, Authoritarianism, Corporatism, and Democratization, Wiarda, Chaps. 3 and 5
September 12, Neo-liberalism, Wiarda, Chaps. 4 and 6.
September 14, Globalization, Wiarda, Chap. 7
September 19, Strategies for Development, Handelman, Chap. 10

FIRST EXAM--Wednesday, September 21

September 26, Religious Politics, Handelman, Chap. 3.
September 28, Ethnic Politics, Handelman, Chap. 4.
October 3, Women and Development, Handelman Chap. 5.
October 5, Rural Politics, Handelman, Chap. 6.
October 10, Urban Politics, Handelman, Chap. 7.
October 12, Revolutionary Politics, Handelman, Chap. 8
October 17, The Military, Handelman, Chap. 9

SECOND EXAM--Wednesday, October 19
Sunday, October 23--Last day to drop without a grade check.

October 24, India, Joseph, et. al., Chap. 3; sample multiple choice questions.
October 26, India, continued.
October 31, India, continued.
November 2, Mexico, Joseph, et. al., Chap. 4; sample multiple choice questions.
November 7, Mexico, continued.
November 9, Mexico, continued.
November 14, Mexico, continued.

THIRD EXAM--Wednesday, November 16
Friday, November 18--Last Day to Drop.

November 21, Nigeria, Joseph, et. al., Chap. 6; sample multiple choice questions
November 23, Nigeria,continued; Michael Peel, "Oil in troubled waters," Financial Times, March 25, 2005.
November 28, Nigeria,continued.

Deadline for Submitting Make-up Request
Wednesday, November 24, 3 p.m.

November 30, Iran, Joseph, et. al., Chap 7; sample multiple choice questions.
December 5, Iran, continued.
December 7, Iran, continued.

Make-up Exams
Friday, June 3, 9 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: t.b.a

December 12, Conclusions, Handelman, Chap. 2; and Wiarda, Chap. 8.