Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - IS 210 D100

Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges (3)

Class Number: 5108

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Fri, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 17, 2022
    Sat, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to the variety of systems of governance in the world today, examines the historical and cultural sources of their different developmental trajectories, and assesses the challenges they face in the future. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

The aim of this course is to introduce students of international studies to the variety of political regimes and outcomes that are found across the world's regions. Across the globe, the growth of illiberal democracies, the entrenchment of electoral authoritarianism, and the rise of the “Beijing consensus” as an alternative political model have changed the landscape of comparative world politics. Moving beyond the democracy-dictatorship dichotomy, the course will thus compare a number of democratic and authoritarian variants, including flawed democracies, military governments, one-party systems, and hybrid regimes.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Throughout the course, we will explore some of the theoretical accounts of regime formation and regime trajectories that have come to prominence within the comparative politics literature, including the economic, cultural, and institutional determinants of different political systems. We will also investigate particular democratic and authoritarian variants in detail, including the internal dynamics that contribute to their perpetuation or breakdown as well the unique challenges that each type of political system faces. Cases for investigation will be drawn from Latin America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia.

Grading

  • Exploratory Piece 15%
  • Midterm Exam 20%
  • Major Essay 25%
  • Final Exam 25%
  • Participation 15%

NOTES:

Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.

The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Levitsky, Steven and Ziblatt, Daniel. How Democracies Die. Crown, 2019.
ISBN: 9781524762940

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html