POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Department of Political Science

COURSE TITLE Introduction to Comparative Politics

COURSE CODE POSC 20073
CREDIT UNITS 3
COURSE PREREQUISITE Fundamentals of Political Science
COURSE DESCRIPTION Survey of the governments and politics of several contemporary societies. It explores political leadership, representative mechanisms, legal
processes, and the extra-institutional behaviors of voting culture, ethnic conflict, and corruption.

Institutional Learning Outcomes Program Outcomes Course Outcomes

1.Creative and Critical Thinking
Graduates use their imaginative as well as a rational
thinking ability to life situations in order push
boundaries, realize possibilities, and deepen their
interdisciplinary and general understanding of the
world.
2.Effective Communication
Graduates are proficient in the four macro skills in
communication (reading, writing, listening, and
speaking) and are able to use these skills in solving
problems. Making decisions, and articulating thoughts
when engaging with people in various circumstances.
3.Strong Service Orientation
Graduates exemplify the potentialities of an efficient,
well-rounded and responsible professional deeply
committed to service excellence.
4.Community Engagement
Graduates take an active role in the promotion and
fulfillment of various advocacies (educational, social
and environmental) for the advancement of community
welfare.
5.Adeptness in the Responsible Use of Technology
Graduates demonstrate optimized use of digital
Students in the discipline must exhibit the following
competencies at the end of the undergraduate
program. Graduates should be able to:
a. compare, contrast and classify the major concepts in
the discipline.
b. recognize and define the distinctiveness of the
discipline, its sub fields, theories and methods.
c. design and execute research inquiries using
appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods
guided by theories or conceptual frameworks.
d. demonstrate written, visual and oral presentation
skills to produce and present analytical reports.
e. critique, judge and respond to current issues and
problems-based developments in the national and
global contexts.
f. Develop a predisposition towards ethical political
involvement and practice in various forms and on
different levels of engagement.
Upon successful completion of this course, students
will be able to:
 identify and differentiate between various
theoretical research paradigms employed in the
social sciences;
 apply comparative methodology to the study of
political systems;
 identify and differentiate between various
methodologies used to compare political
systems;
 understand how past events in state’s
developmental path lead to differences in long-
term outcomes;
 identify key factors in the economic
competitiveness among states;
 compare and contrast development outcomes
among resource-rich and non-resource-rich
states;
 explain key views on the evolution of the
international system;
 understand how states approach the issue of
development;
 understand the policymaking process and some
 learning abilities, including technical and numerical of the forces that impact that process;
skills.  compare and contrast the various political
6.Passion to Lifelong Learning systems in the world;
Graduates are enabled to perform and function in the  understand how party identification impacts
society by taking responsibility in their quest to know voting;
more about the world through lifelong learning.  explain the latest trends in voter turnout;
7.High Level of Leadership and Organizational Skills  explain the impact of media on the public and
Graduates are developed to become the best the state;
professionals in their respective disciplines by  compare and contrast the key democratic
manifesting the appropriate skills and leaderships institutions in various countries;
qualities.  understand the reasons for bureaucracy;
8.Sense of Personal and Professional Ethics  describe and explain the political economy and
Graduates show desirable attitudes and behavior either development in selected countries;
in their personal and professional circumstances.  identify and explain political challenges and
9.Sense of National and Global Responsiveness changing agendas in selected countries;
Graduates’ deep sense of national compliments the  compare and contrast the effectiveness of public
need to live in a global village where one’s culture and and private sectors;
other people culture are respected.  identify the various approaches for studying
democracy; and
 understand the development of various systems
of government.

Course Plan

Week Topic Learning Outcomes Methodology Resources Assessment

1-3
Social Science and Comparative
Politics
 Social Science Basics
 Comparative Methodology
Upon successful completion of this unit, you On-line
will be able to:
 describe the scientific method;
 differentiate between scientific laws
and theories;
 differentiate between inductive and
deductive thinking;
 define explanatory, exploratory, and
1.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16398 On-line Examination
2.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16399
Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16400
Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16401
5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16402
6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16403
 descriptive research;
 differentiate between positivist, anti-
positivist and post-positivist
methods;
 differentiate between Mill's "Method
of Agreement” and "Direct Method
of Difference";
 define comparative politics; and
 identify and explain various
comparative methodologies used to
compare various political systems.

Week The Nation-State Upon successful completion of this unit, you On-line 1. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16404 On-line Examination
2. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16405
3-5  The State will be able to: Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16642
 The Modern State System  identify the origins of the modern Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16644
 Non Democratic State Forms nation state system; 5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16645 Movie or Documentary
 define the chief characteristics of a 6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16646 Review
nation state; 7. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16647
8. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16648
 differentiate between nations and
9. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16649
nation-states; 10. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16650
 define sovereignty and identify and
explain trends in sovereignty;
 identify characteristics of a strong
and weak state;
 explain how Hobbes and Weber
conceptualize the state; and
 differentiate between authoritarian
and totalitarian states.

Week Democratic States and Upon successful completion of this unit, you On-line 1. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16651 On-line Examination
2. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16652
6-8 Democratization will be able to: Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16653
 Defining Democracy and the  define democracy; Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16654
Characteristics of Democracy  differentiate between representative 5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=18356 Movie or Documentary
 Democratization (indirect) and participatory (direct) 6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16656 Review
democracy; 7. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16657
8. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16658
 identify prominent characteristics of
 democratic states;
 identify trends in democratization;
 list the six major explanations for
democratization; and
 explain and assess if democracy
improves economic outcomes.
Week 9 Mid-Term Exams
Week Comparing Political Structures and Upon successful completion of this unit, you
10-11 Institutions will be able to:
 Comparing Constitutions and  identify the role of constitutions in
Government Systems government systems;
 How to Design Multi-level  distinguish between presidential,
Government semi-presidential, and parliamentary
 Bureaucracy systems;
 Trends in Governance: Public  distinguish between unitary, federal,
Sector and Privatization and confederal governmental
models;
 compare and contrast the role of the
executive in selected countries;
 compare and contrast the role of the
judicial branch in selected countries;
and
 compare and contrast the role of
the bureaucracy and the policy
process in selected countries.
Week Political Behavior Upon successful completion of this unit, you
12-13  Political Behavior and Political will be able to:
Culture  define political culture, political
 Civil Society socialization, and political
 The Media participation;
 Voting System Factors  compare and contrast political
cultures in selected countries;
 compare and contrast political
socialization in selected countries;
9. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16659
10. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16660
On-line 1. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16661 On-line Examination
2. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16662
Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16663
Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16664
5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=17845 Movie or Documentary
6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16666 Review
7. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16667
8. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16668
9. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16669
10. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16670
11. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16671
12. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16672
13. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16673
14. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16674
15. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16675
16. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16676
17. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16677
On-line 1. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16678 On-line Examination
2. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16679
Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16680
Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16681
5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16682 Movie or Documentary
6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16683 Review
7. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16684
8. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16685
9. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16686
10. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16687
11. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16688
  describe and explain patterns of
representation and participation in
selected countries;
 compare and contrast the roles and
functions of political parties in
selected countries; and
 compare and contrast the role of
interest groups in selected countries.
Week Ideology, Policy, and Decision Upon successful completion of this unit, you
14-15 Making will be able to:
 Contemporary Mainstream  identify the basic belief systems of
Political Ideologies various mainstream ideologies found
 The Public Policy Cycle in contemporary democratic societies
 Politics beyond the Policy and political parties;
Process  identify and explain governance and
policy-making in selected countries;
and
 identify informal influences on
governance and policy making.
Week Comparative Case Studies Upon successful completion of this unit, you
16-17 Africa will be able to:
Latin America  describe and explain the political
Asia economy and development in
The Middle East and the Islamic selected regions and countries; and
World  identify and explain political
challenges and changing agendas in
selected regions and countries.
12.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16689
13. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16690
14.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16691
15. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16692
16.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16693
17.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16694
18. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16695
19. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16696
20. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16697
21. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16698
22. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16699
23.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16700
24. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16701
25. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16702
26. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16703
On-line 1. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16704 On-line Examination
2. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16705
Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16706
Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=18357
5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=18358 Movie or Documentary
6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16709 Review
7. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16710
8. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16711
9. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16712
10. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16713
11.https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16715
12. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16716
13. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16718
14. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16719
15. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16720
16. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16724
17. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16725
18. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16726
On-line 1. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16727 On-line Examination
2. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16732
Lecture thru LMS
3. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16729
Q and A 4. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16730
5. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16733 Movie or Documentary
6. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16734 Review
7. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=16735
8. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16736
9. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16737
10. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16739
11. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16738
 12. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16740
13https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16742
14. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16741
15. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16744
16. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16743
17. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16745
18. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16746
19. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16748
20. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16749
21. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16750
22. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.php?id=16751
23. https://learn.saylor.org/mod/url/view.php?id=16752

Suggested Readings and References

Analyzing Politics: An Introduction to Political Science 4th Edition; Ellen Grigsby; Wadsworth CENGAGE Learning 2009
Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction 6th Edition; Rod Hague and Martin Harrop, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004
Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction 10th Edition; Rod Hague and Martin Harrop, John McCormick, Palgrave Macmillan 2016
Politics 4th Edition; Andrew Heywood; The Palgrave Macmillan 2013
Social Movements: Identity, Culture and the State; David Meyer, Nancy Whittier, Belinda Robnett; Oxford University Press2002
Theory and Methods in Political Science 3rd Edition; David Marsh, Gerry Stoker; Palgrave Macmillan

Course Grading System

Midterm / Final Examinations 60% Critical Review Essay 20% Report 15% Quizzes/homeworks/Activities 5% 100%

Midterm Grade + Final Term Grade = FINAL GRADE

Classroom Policy
All students are expected to attend all the scheduled on-line meeting via google meet and post their respective examinations in edmodo

Consultation Time
Students may post their queries and concerns on-line through facebook messenger
Prepared by: Enhanced by: Reviewed by:

Assoc. Prof. ELMER M. SORIANO, MPA Assoc. Prof. ELMER M. SORIANO, MPA Assoc. Prof. ANTONIUS C. UMALI, MPA
Chairperson Chairperson Dean
Department of Political Science Department of Political Science

Assoc. Prof. ANTONIUS C. UMALI, MPA

Dean

Approved by:

Prof. EMANUEL C. DE GUZMAN, Ph. D

Vice President for Academic Affairs
Revised March 2020