POLSCI 202: Comparative Politics

This course serves as an introductory course to comparative politics. Students will learn the core concepts and methods in comparative politics including the comparative methods, states and regimes, regime types and democratic transitions through studying both developing and developed countries such as China, India, Russia, Mexico, Germany and United Kingdom. The second part of the course focuses on political institutions. Students will learn the different forms of democracies and autocracies by examining the institutions and political processes. The course seeks to understand the mechanisms through which the political institutions and processes affect citizens, behaviors and political outcomes while comparing developing and developed countries. The third part of the course discusses political issues and policy outcomes including challenges to democracies, women and politics, social cleavages, and inequality and redistribution. Throughout the course, students will develop informed and coherent arguments on relevant topics through discussions, debates, simulation games, and research.