IREL 535Comparative Politics

Catalog

Since political scientists cannot avail the facilities of laboratory testing of human political behavior and cannot replicate political systems, they resort to the comparative method in examining differences in politics across states. This course introduces students to some of the major concepts, issues and forms of government in the field of comparative politics. An initial introduction to comparative methodologies and approaches will equip students with the tools that enable comparative examination. Later, the course will focus on an exploration of the political systems in different types of states. States are divided on the basis of democracies, both established and struggling, communist systems, and authoritarian systems. The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with alternative models of government as well provide them with the necessary tools to evaluate and understand different systems of government.