Comparative Politics
eatuk1@gsu.edu.tr
Content
Objective
Comparative politics analyzes political systems across countries, cultures, and historical periods. This course introduces its approaches, methods, and contemporary debates, while training students in the design and conduct of comparative research.
Course Content
Following a detailed introduction defining comparative politics as a field of political science and outlining its evolution from the behavioralist revolution to the present day, the course will focus on the comparative method.
An overview of theories and approaches will be presented, with particular emphasis on neo-institutional theories.
Equipped with this methodological and theoretical background, students will conduct a comparative study of political structures, institutions, actors, and processes. Special attention will be paid to the study of democracy and the challenges it currently faces.
We will organize a comparative research workshop where students can apply their theoretical knowledge and methodological skills by working in pairs on a project; this project will be carried out in four clearly defined stages and presented to the class at the end of the semester.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1. Understand the main theoretical and methodological traditions in comparative politics.
2. Identify and formulate a comparative research question.
3. Select cases and design a rigorous research project (MSSD, MDSD, etc.).
4. Use concepts, typologies, and theoretical frameworks in comparative analysis.
5. Work in pairs to compare and confront national-level analyses.
6. Present a research project orally and provide constructive feedback.
7. Use digital tools for research and data visualization.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The course combines lectures, guided readings, case studies, methodological workshops, and interactive activities using digital tools and platforms.
References
Peters, B. G. (1998). Comparative Politics: Theory and Methods.
Vigour, C. (2005). La comparaison dans les sciences sociales : Pratiques et méthodes. https://doi.org/10.3917/dec.vigou.2005.01
Lijphart, A. (2011). Comparative Politics and Comparative Methods.
Morlino, L. (2013). Introduction à la politique comparée. https://doi.org/10.3917/arco.rlino.2013.01
Gazibo, M. & Jenson, J. (2015). La politique comparée.
Caramani, D. (dir.) (2020). Comparative Politics.
Seiler, D.-L. (dir.) (1994). La politique comparée en question.
Sartori, G. (1970). Concept Misformation in Comparative Politics. APSR.
Beroud (2010). Retour sur quelques enjeux de la politique comparée.
RIPC (2014). 20 ans de politique comparée.
Kohli et al. (1995). The Role of Theory in Comparative Politics.
Hall, P. A., & Taylor, R. C. R. (1996). Political Science and the Three New Institutionalisms.
Gazibo, M. (2002). Le néo-institutionnalisme dans l’analyse comparée des processus de démocratisation.
Magni-Berton, R. (2014). La théorie du choix rationnel en politique comparée.
Lijphart, A. (2012). Patterns of Democracy. Yale University Press.
Norris, P., & Inglehart, R. (2019). Cultural Backlash. Cambridge University Press.
Acemoğlu, D. & Robinson, J. A. (2012). Why Nations Fail. Crown.
Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2018). How Democracies Die. Crown.
Ressources numériques : Our World in Data, V-Dem, ParlGov, WVS…
Weekly Contents
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | General introduction: What is comparative politics? Introduction to key debates |
| 2 | The emergence and evolution of the discipline: from the behavioral revolution to the present |
| 3 | Research objects and questions in comparative politics |
| 4 | Method I – How to compare? |
| 5 | Method II – Case selection (MSSD, MDSD, and other models) |
| 6 | Method III – Variables, hypotheses, and indicators (online databases) |
| 7 | Overview of theories and approaches in comparative politics |
| 8 | Focus on neo-institutionalist theories: historical, sociological, and rational choice institutionalism |
| 9 | Structures and institutions: state, legislatures, governments, electoral systems, etc. |
| 10 | Actors and processes: parties, public opinion, political participation, social movements, etc. |
| 11 | Problems of democracy: democratization, democratic backsliding, cultural backlash, populism(s), etc. |
| 12 | Research workshop – preparation of final presentations |
| 13 | Oral presentation of projects |
| 14 | Synthesis and perspectives |
Assessment System
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 4 | 60 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 40 |
| Total | 5 | 100 |
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 2 | 60 |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 2 | 20 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 100 |
Relation of Proficiency
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Understanding the major theories, concepts, foundations, and methodologies used in the study of politics. | X | ||||
| 2 | Identifying the structure and operation of the political system in Turkey and other political systems in the world. | X | ||||
| 3 | Identifying and gathering information from credible primary and secondary sources; analyzing and synthesizing the acquired knowledge. | X | ||||
| 4 | Generating and testing empirically hypotheses about political processes, institutions, mechanisms and relationships. | X | ||||
| 5 | Designing, conducting and interpreting the results of original research in accordance with the scientific and ethical principles by using basic research methods. | X | ||||
| 6 | Showing awareness and sensivity towards issues related to democracy, human rights and social peace. | X | ||||
| 7 | Appraising the sources of societal conflict and how they can be resolved by political means. | X | ||||
| 8 | Examining critically the nature of change in the global political community, and the complex character of processes such as globalization. | X | ||||
| 9 | Taking a role in a teamwork in political science and general fields of other related disciplines. | X | ||||
| 10 | Following publications in foreign languages and communicating with the colleagues in the international environment by using French which is the language of education in Galatasaray University and English, the compulsory foreign language. | X | ||||
| 11 | Using required level of information and communication technologies. | X | ||||
ECTS
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 12 | 3 | 36 |
| Assignments | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Presentation | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Quiz | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Bütünleme | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 104 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 4.16 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 4 | ||