Politics 216: Comparative Democratic Systems
Spring Semester 2019
Smullin Hall Room 130
MWF 9:10–10:10
Prof. Michael Marks
Office: Smullin Hall 332
Office Tel: 503–370–6932
Politics Dept. Tel. 503–370–6060
E-mail: mmarks@willamette.edu
Home Page: http://www.willamette.edu/~mmarks
Office Hours: MWF: 10:15–11:15, TuTh 8:30–9:40, and by
appointment
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to politics and
government in advanced industrial societies. Primary emphasis will be
placed on democratic countries in Europe, North America, and Japan,
although references will also be made to Australia, New Zealand, and
the emerging industrial democracies of East Asia, along with other
emerging democratic societies. Through readings, lectures and
discussions, students will explore governmental structures,
policy-making, popular participation, and domestic and foreign policy
issues across a variety of countries. Emphasis will be placed on the
current state of politics in an industrialized world undergoing
fundamental change in the post-Cold War era. The nature of democracy
provides the backdrop for this discussion.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of similarities and differences in
political institutions in advanced industrial societies.
2. Distinguish among competing explanations for political activity in
advanced industrial societies.
3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of arguments made in course
readings.
4. Identify sources of change in the politics of advanced industrial
societies.
5. Write effectively and persuasively analyzing similarities and
differences in political institutions in advanced industrial societies.
6. Use factual evidence to analyze politics in advanced industrial
societies.
Time Commitment for This Course
Willamette’s Credit Hour Policy holds that for every hour of
class time there is an expectation of 2–3 hours work outside of
class. Thus, for a class meeting three hours a week such as this one
you should anticipate spending 6–9 hours outside of class engaged
in course-related activities. For this course you should allocate your
time among the following three activities: Reading assigned texts
(including preparing weekly chapter summaries of those texts), reading
newspapers and/or online news resources on topics relevant to the
class, writing the three essay assignments due over the course of the
semester.
Course Organization
The course will employ a combination of lectures and student
participation. Therefore, students will be expected to have completed
the readings and be prepared to engage actively in the classroom
discussion.
About Class Participation
The large size of this class is not particularly suited to classroom
discussion. However, people tend to learn better when they verbalize
new material. Therefore, students should be prepared to discuss the
readings the weeks they are assigned.
Electronic Devices in the Classroom
Laptop computers can assist in note taking and wireless Internet access
on campus can aid in organized classroom exercises. However, laptop
computers can also be a classroom distraction. Laptop computers are
permitted in class for note taking purposes. Additionally, there may be
occasions when the class as a whole may want to use the campus wireless
network to look things up online. However, please refrain from checking
e-mail, online chatting, websurfing, game playing, etc. during class.
If you are observed doing so during class time, you will asked to no
longer bring your laptop to class. Additionally, cell phones should be
turned off prior to class.
Accommodations
Students requiring accommodation should contact the Office of
Accessible Education Services (Student Success Hub in Matthews Hall,
Phone: 503–370–6737) for consultation and to make the
necessary arrangements.
Sexual Misconduct and Mandatory
Reporting
Instructors at Willamette have a responsibility is to help create a
safe learning environment for their students and for the campus as a
whole. Please be aware that all instructors are required to
report any instances of sexual harassment, sexual violence and/or other
forms of prohibited discrimination to Willamette's Title IX
Coordinator. If you would rather share information about sexual
harassment, sexual violence or discrimination to a confidential
employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, please
contact the confidential advocate at confidential-advocate@willamette.edu.
You may also contact WUTalk, a 24-hour telephone crisis counseling
support line at 503–375–5353. If in immediate danger,
please call campus safety at 503–370–6911.
Managing the Reading List
In order to profit fully from the readings, students should read the
material assigned for a particular week before
the scheduled classroom discussion. We will discuss the readings
assuming that the students have read them ahead of time. It is
absolutely necessary that students be prepared to discuss the readings
in the weekly discussion sections.
Readings
Students should purchase the following three books:
1. Jessica R. ADOLINO and Charles H. BLAKE, Comparing Public Policies: Issues and
Choices in Industrialized Countries, (Second Edition),
(Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011)
2. Markus M.L. CREPAZ, European
Democracies, (Ninth
Edition), (New York: Routledge, 2017).
3. Mark KESSELMAN, (ed.), Readings
in Comparative Politics, (Second Edition), (Boston: Wadsworth,
2010)
The readings below are noted as “ADOLINO & BLAKE,”
“CREPAZ,” and “KESSELMAN.”
Writing Assignments
1. There will be three take-home writing assignments. Questions will
ask the students to analyze and evaluate some feature of the preceding
weeks’ thematic discussions as covered in class and in the
readings. No research is required for these take-home writing
assignments.
2. Each week, except those weeks in
which essays (above) are due, students are to choose one of the
course readings for that week and hand in, in class on Monday of that week,
a short (no more than one paragraph) summary of the reading’s
main points, along with a discussion question for that reading. These assignments are due in class on
Mondays. No credit will be given for late submissions of these reading
summaries.
Grading
The final grade will be computed as follows: First writing assignment:
20%; Second and third writing assignments: 35% each; Weekly summaries
of course readings: 10%. In addition, the instructor reserves the right
to raise final grades for superior classroom participation, and lower
final grades for deficient classroom attendance.
Incompletes will be given only under exceptional circumstances such as
serious illness. You may appeal any of your grades during office hours
only after you have handed in a typed, reasoned memorandum detailing
the specific reasons why you think the grade you received is not
justified.
Late writing assignments will be assessed a one-third grade penalty per
day (e.g., a B+ paper handed in a day late receives a B, two days late
a B–, etc.).
Plagiarism and Cheating Policy
All writing assignments turned in must be your own written work. You
may not copy, borrow, or appropriate other authors’ work, unless
you are doing so in the form of a cited quotation. All references to
other authors’ work must be fully documented in the form of
citations and/or footnotes, and direct quotes must be indicated as such
with quotation marks. Suspected cases of plagiarism will be pursued
vigorously and appropriate penalties (including an “F” for
the course) will be applied.
Willamette's
Plagiarism and Cheating Policy
Course Schedule and Weekly Reading
Assignments
January 23–25:
Introduction
No readings
January 28–February 1:
Elections and Popular Participation
1. CREPAZ: Chapters 3, 6 (pages 126–133)
2. KESSELMAN: Reading 6.5
February 4–8:
The Structure of Government
1. CREPAZ: 4–5, 6 (pages 133–138)
2. ADOLINO & BLAKE: Chapters 3–4
February 11–15:
Political Parties
1. CREPAZ: Chapter 2
FEBRUARY 18: FIRST PAPER DUE
February 18–22:
Pluralism, Interest Groups, Corporatism, and the State
1. CREPAZ: Chapter 11
2. KESSELMAN: Readings 3.2, 3.3, 4.2
February 25–March 1:
Social
Movements
1. CREPAZ: Chapter 7
2. KESSELMAN: Readings 6.6, 7.2
March 4–8:
Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, and Civic Society
1. KESSELMAN: Readings 4.1, 4.3, 7.3, 7.4
March 11–15: Economic
Policy I
1. ADOLINO & BLAKE: Chapters 6–7
2. KESSELMAN: Readings 3.1, 3.4
MARCH 18: SECOND PAPER DUE
March 18–22: Economic
Policy II: The Welfare State and Social Policy
1. CREPAZ: Chapter 8
2. ADOLONO & BLAKE: Chapters 8–10
3. KESSELMAN: Reading 7.1
March 25–29: Spring
Break
Spring Break
April 1–5:
Nationalism, Ethnic Politics, and Consociationalism
1. CREPAZ: Chapters 13–14
2. KESSELMAN: Readings 1.5, 1.6, 5.2, 5.5, 6.4
April 8–12:
Democratization in Historical Context
1. KESSELMAN: Reading 1.2
April 15–19: Democratic
Consolidation and the Status of Democracy Today
1. KESSELMAN: Readings 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 6.2
April 22–26: Political
Change and Corruption
1. KESSELMAN: Readings 2.2, 2.4, 5.1, 6.1, 7.5
APRIL 29: THIRD PAPER DUE
April 29–May 3:
Post-Modern Politics
1. KESSELMAN: Readings 1.1, 1.4, 2.3, 2.6, 3.6
May 6: Conclusion
No readings