POLIS 1104 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2022
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code POLIS 1104 Course Introduction to Comparative Politics Coordinating Unit Politics and International Relations Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible POLI 1104 Assessment SGD activities (20%), Individual submissions to group projects (10%), Online tests (25%), Open-book exam (45%) Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Czeslaw Tubilewicz
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1 Define the key terms in Comparative Politics 2 Discuss the political history, institutions, political cultures, political parties, interest groups, political issues, cleavages, and the major political conflicts of various contemporary political systems 3 Compare and contrast major aspects of democratic and non-democratic political systems 4 Compare and contrast economic challenges facing developed and developing states 5 Debate the role of a state in economic development 6 Participate in group discussions about contested concepts with confidence and with tolerance for other points of view 7 Navigate the large amounts of research material available in this subject through both traditional academic sources and through the use of information technology 8 Demonstrate career readiness and leadership skills appropriate for beginning professional practice, including lifelong learning skills characterised by academic rigour, self-direction and intellectual independence University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1-5 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1-6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
6 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
7-8 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
6 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
7-8 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
The Course Reader is available online only.Recommended Resources
In the past, this course used the text by Gabriel Almond, G. Bingham Powell, Russell J. Dalton and Kaare Strom (eds.), Comparative Politics Today: A World View. There should be numerous second-hand copies of this textbook if you wish to go beyond the Course Reader.
Recommended academic readings are also made available on Myuni.
Internet Resources
General Reference Texts
Clanchy, J and Ballard, B. Essay Writing for Students [Barr-Smith Library electronic resource]
Bell, J. Doing your Research Project: A Guide for First- Time Researchers in Education and Social Science (Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 1993).
The Chambers English Dictionary (Edinburgh: W & R Chambers (many editions))
Fowler, H.W., The New Fowler’s Modem English Usage (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996).
Gowers, E. The Complete Plain Words (London: Penguin, 1973).
Manser, M.H. Bloomsbury Guide to Better English (London: Bloomsbury, 1994).
The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000). Plotnik, A. The Elements of Editing: A Modem Guide for Editors and Journalists (New York: Macmillan, 1982).
Strunk, W., Jr & E.B. White The Elements of Style (New York: Macmillan, 1979).
Turabian, K.L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, (Chicago: Chicago U., 1967). (More recent edition available)
Viet, R. Research: The Students’ Guide (New York: Macmillan, 1990).
Politics Reference Texts
Adams, I. Political Ideology Today (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1993).
Bogdanor, V. (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Institutions (Oxford: Blackwell, 1987).
Dictionary of Government and Politics, 2nd Ed. (Teddington: Peter Collin Publishing, 1997).
Evans, G. & J. Newnham The Dictionary of World Politics: A Reference Guide to Concepts, Ideas and Institutions (London: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1992).
Geuss, R. History and Illusion in Politics (Cambridge: CUP, 2001).
Hadjor, K.B. The Penguin Dictionary of Third World Terms (London: Penguin, 1993).
Kymlicka, W. Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990).
Light, M. & J. Groom (eds) International Relations: A Handbook of Current Theory (London: Pinter, 1985).
Miller, D. (ed.) The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought (Oxford: Blackwell, 1987).
Paxton, J. (ed.) The Statesman’s Year-Book (London: Macmillan, 1964).
Phillips, H. & C. Rielly Key Concepts in Politics (Melbourne: Nelson, 1982).
Piano, J.C. & R. Olton (eds) International Relations Dictionary, 4th Ed. (Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 1988).
Ridd, M.A. Dictionary of Modem Political Ideologies (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1987).
Van Evera, S. Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1997).
Weldon, T.D. The Vocabulary of Politics (London: Pelican, 1953).
Year Book of International Organizations, 3 Vols (Munich, New York, London and Paris: K.G. Sauer, 1990-1).
Internet Resources
Comparative Politics: practice tests
Comparative Politics, Working Papers at Yale University:
Columbia University Resource Site:
Electoral systems:
Foreign Government Resources:
Governments on the WWW:
Poly-Cy Guide to Internet Resources for Political Science:
Country Study Sites
BBC Country Profiles:
CIA World Factbook:
Economist Country Briefings:
Human Development Reports:
Library of Congress Country Studies:
The National Bureau of Asian Research:
Political Database of the Americas:
Profiles of Countries and Regions:
A Selection of Comparative Politics Journals:
African Studies Quarterly
Asian Survey
Comparative Politics
Comparative Political Studies
Development
Problems of Post-communism
Third World Quarterly
Journals in area studies (Routledge):
Cambridge series in comparative politics (books):Online Learning
The POLI 1104 MyUni site contains announcements, copies of many course materials such as lecture notes, lecture recordings, assigned and recommended readings, a discussion forum, and links to useful web sites. You should check this site regularly. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures are to follow a face-to-face format, unless the pandemic forces us to move them to Zoom. Whether delivered face-to-face or via Zoom all lectures will be recorded and lecture recordings immediately posted online. Some tutorials (SGDs) will be held online, while some in-class.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
1 x 3-hour lectures per week 24 hours per semester 1 x 1-hour tutorial per week 24 hours per semester 2 hours tutorial preparation per week 24 hours per semester 3 hours assignment preparation per week 36 hours per semester 2 hours reading per week 24 hours per semester 2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester Learning Activities Summary
Schedule Week 1 What is Comparative Politics?
Methods in Comparative PoliticsWeek 2 States and nations
Key concepts in Comparative PoliticsWeek 3 The United States: political history and political system Week 4 The United States: domestic contests
China: political historyWeek 5 China: political system and domestic contests Week 6 Comparing the USA and China
The European Union: history of European integrationWeek 7 The EU: political institutions and processes; contemporary challenges Week 8 India: political history and political system Week 9 India: domestic contests
Comparing the EU and IndiaWeek 10 Japan: political history and political system Week 11 Japan: domestic contests
Russia: political history and political systemWeek 12 Russia: domestic contests
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching.
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Online tests Formative and Summative 50% Take-home exam Summative 50% Assessment Detail
Online tests: students are expected to complete weekly online tests, as well as mid-term and final online tests.
Take-home exam: students will sit a two-hour open-book exam at home in mid-June.Submission
For details regarding submission guidelines, please refer to the Course Guide.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
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- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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