Comparative Politics Electives

This course will introduce students to Germany's politics and society. Starting with a survey of modern German history from World War II until today, the course continues with a discussion of its political system and selected policies such as immigration and energy policy. Germany's post-war history, politics and policies are deeply interwoven with Europe. The increasingly prominent German role in the European Union and the world will also be analyzed. The class ends with a unit on Berlin, the artistic and multicultural capital of Europe.

Survey of political elite studies, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary, with linkage to world and domestic politics. National case studies will vary by instructor.

This course offers an introduction to the political systems of post-World War II Europe. Using a country-by-country approach, the course focuses specifically on Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and East-Central Europe. It also contains a unit on the institutions and policies of European Union. We will take a closer look at the impact of immigration on European society, the interaction between domestic and European institutions,  the debates on economic reforms and market  liberalization in different countries, and the relationship between the EU and the US.

Causal analysis of conditions of stability and breakdown of democratic regimes with particular emphasis on the developing democracies of the third world.

This course will be about electoral systems used in democracies around the world.  The course will cover both the mechanics of how votes are translated into seats and how the particulars of these mechanisms affect practices and organization of politics in the countries with various electoral systems.

Analysis of how variations in social structures and political configurations influence governmental policy and determine international competitiveness of states. Industrial sectors in five major economies are examined to determine how political systems differ, what kinds of policies enhance competitiveness, and where countries rank in terms of innovation of key industrial sectors.

This course offers a general introduction to contemporary Latin America from the perspective of political economy. It will focus on structural factors to help explain the main political, social and economic trends in the region. The overall goal of the course is to provide the basic, historical tools for understanding the current challenges that this region confronts.

Surveys the Russian political system, its Soviet authoritarian past, and its evolution and democratic potential. Focus on the decision-making process, political elites, and policies. Passing comparative attention to other former Soviet Union (FSU) countries.