Comparative Politics I

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

PO 2650 Comparative Politics at TCD; The course is an introduction to the study of comparative politics. Comparative politics deals with political organisations, individual and collective actors and processes. The main goal is to describe, explain and predict similarities and differences across the political systems. Hence, the course begins by examining the fundamental rationale for studying politics in a comparative context. Then we will explore the institutional and cultural approaches to politics and major theories and concepts in the study of comparative politics. ~Since the potential subject matter of comparative politics is vast we will primarily concentrate on poiltical parties, electoral systems, governments, legislatures, regime change, and democratization, in addition to political economy. Using conceptual and methodological tools students are encouraged to analyze a variety of countries worldwide although the primary focus will be on European politics.