Comparative Politics
PLSC 300: Comparative Public Policies
Dr. Avdeyeva
TTh 8:30am / LSC
This course will provide a concise overview of the policy process and will invite students to investigate the role of cultural, economic, political, and institutional influences on policymaking in comparative perspective. We will learn the basic rules of comparative analysis, examine the political systems in several post-industrial nations, and analyze policy contexts across these nations. The examination of seven policy areas will constitute the core of this task: immigration policy, fiscal, taxation, health care, social policy, education, and environment. The course will strike a balance between policy analysis and description as it will provide students with a helpful mix of analytical tools and background information.
PLSC 300: Women and Family Policy
Dr. Avdeyeva
TTh 11:30am / LSC
Demographers, sociologists, political scientists, lawyers, and policy analysts agree that family and household structure underwent far-reaching change in the course of the 20th century in Western democracies, which, on one hand, resulted in greater family diversity; but, on the other hand, made family a vulnerable unit in today’s society. In this course, we will engage in analytical discussions on what affects family wellbeing and how to design family policies to better serve the needs of contemporary families. The course has a strong comparative component. We will engage in comparative analysis of family policies in Western democracies (Western Europe, US, and Canada); study the changing socio-economic context in these countries; and try to design policy recommendations that could assist families in coping with challenges of today’s world.
PLSC 300: Women and Politics--A Global Perspective
Ms. Sholar
TTh 2:30pm / LSC
This course examines the role of women in international political life. Our goal is to understand how and why women throughout the world participate in politics. We will examine a set of inter-related questions: What strategies have women used to gain political power? Besides women's participation in the traditional spheres of what is considered politics--women as voters and politicians--are there other, informal ways that women have become "political" actors? How do different political systems and political cultures influence women's status and power? How does the presence or absence of women from decision-making power affect public policy and the quality of women's lives? What barriers continue to exist to women's full political participation and representation, and what (if anything) can be done to overcome these obstacles? Students will reflect upon similarities and differences amongst women both across societies and within a single society, using the experience of American women as a reference point.
PLSC 360: Western European Politics
Dr. Mahler
TTh 1:00pm / LSC
This course begins with an introduction to politics in western Europe as a region. It then offers a closer look at political institutions, processes, behavior and policy in three large Western European countries, Britain, France and Germany. Finally, the course concludes with a brief examination of the European Union, a regional organization linking 27 European countries.
PLSC 362: Politics of Developing Societies
Dr. Boyle
M 4:15pm / LSC
This course introduces students to politics in a number of societies throughout the developing word and examines development as it pertains to politics and socio economic growth. Explored in this course are the meanings and controversies surrounding development, both historically and in contemporary debates, claims about similarities in political structures and practices in developing states; theories of modernization and dependency; the roles of the international community and multilateral organization in developing countries; and study of specific cases, including in this section of the course, China and at least one state in Latin America and Africa.
PLSC 368: Politics of the Middle East
Mr. Marrar
Th 4:15pm / LSC
This is a comparative politics course on the Middle East. While examining international relations between Middle Eastern countries, this course focuses especially on their interactions with the West. In this context, the Arab-Israeli conflict receives special emphasis. This course also examines the impact of globalization on the peoples of the Middle East.
LSC=Lake Shore Campus
WTC=Water Tower Campus
PLSC 300: Comparative Public Policies
Dr. Avdeyeva
TTh 8:30am / LSC
This course will provide a concise overview of the policy process and will invite students to investigate the role of cultural, economic, political, and institutional influences on policymaking in comparative perspective. We will learn the basic rules of comparative analysis, examine the political systems in several post-industrial nations, and analyze policy contexts across these nations. The examination of seven policy areas will constitute the core of this task: immigration policy, fiscal, taxation, health care, social policy, education, and environment. The course will strike a balance between policy analysis and description as it will provide students with a helpful mix of analytical tools and background information.
PLSC 300: Women and Family Policy
Dr. Avdeyeva
TTh 11:30am / LSC
Demographers, sociologists, political scientists, lawyers, and policy analysts agree that family and household structure underwent far-reaching change in the course of the 20th century in Western democracies, which, on one hand, resulted in greater family diversity; but, on the other hand, made family a vulnerable unit in today’s society. In this course, we will engage in analytical discussions on what affects family wellbeing and how to design family policies to better serve the needs of contemporary families. The course has a strong comparative component. We will engage in comparative analysis of family policies in Western democracies (Western Europe, US, and Canada); study the changing socio-economic context in these countries; and try to design policy recommendations that could assist families in coping with challenges of today’s world.
PLSC 300: Women and Politics--A Global Perspective
Ms. Sholar
TTh 2:30pm / LSC
This course examines the role of women in international political life. Our goal is to understand how and why women throughout the world participate in politics. We will examine a set of inter-related questions: What strategies have women used to gain political power? Besides women's participation in the traditional spheres of what is considered politics--women as voters and politicians--are there other, informal ways that women have become "political" actors? How do different political systems and political cultures influence women's status and power? How does the presence or absence of women from decision-making power affect public policy and the quality of women's lives? What barriers continue to exist to women's full political participation and representation, and what (if anything) can be done to overcome these obstacles? Students will reflect upon similarities and differences amongst women both across societies and within a single society, using the experience of American women as a reference point.
PLSC 360: Western European Politics
Dr. Mahler
TTh 1:00pm / LSC
This course begins with an introduction to politics in western Europe as a region. It then offers a closer look at political institutions, processes, behavior and policy in three large Western European countries, Britain, France and Germany. Finally, the course concludes with a brief examination of the European Union, a regional organization linking 27 European countries.
PLSC 362: Politics of Developing Societies
Dr. Boyle
M 4:15pm / LSC
This course introduces students to politics in a number of societies throughout the developing word and examines development as it pertains to politics and socio economic growth. Explored in this course are the meanings and controversies surrounding development, both historically and in contemporary debates, claims about similarities in political structures and practices in developing states; theories of modernization and dependency; the roles of the international community and multilateral organization in developing countries; and study of specific cases, including in this section of the course, China and at least one state in Latin America and Africa.
PLSC 368: Politics of the Middle East
Mr. Marrar
Th 4:15pm / LSC
This is a comparative politics course on the Middle East. While examining international relations between Middle Eastern countries, this course focuses especially on their interactions with the West. In this context, the Arab-Israeli conflict receives special emphasis. This course also examines the impact of globalization on the peoples of the Middle East.
LSC=Lake Shore Campus
WTC=Water Tower Campus