Introduction To Comparative Politics

3 Credits.

To understand politics, the 24-hour news cycle of the modern media takes us only so far. In this course, we will take a step back and implement an intellectually rigorous method. Scholars of comparative politics use the method of comparison to illuminate important political phenomena of our times. Following this method, we will embark on a scholarly tour of the world and compare the politics of various countries. We will also trace these politics back to their historical sources. We will adopt the assumption that there is something to be gained from such comparisons across space and time.