Department of Political Science

This course has a dual purpose: (1) to introduce students to political science and (2) to show how political scientists compare and contrast different countries. Students will gain a basic understanding of the variety of political systems that different societies have established throughout history. We will pay particular attention to the economic consequences of different types of government to understand why some countries are rich and others are poor, but will also explore various other topics such as presidential and parliamentary democracies, dictatorships, political order and conflict, political participation, public policies, and social movements. Political theories will be illustrated with case readings and short films from selected countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

• S&H
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