Sweet Briar College
Instructor: Thomas Brister
Hours: MWF 9:30 - 10:20
Office Hours: Wednesday 10:30-11:30
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the study of comparative politics as a field of political science. We will compare politics and institutions in three Western European countries: Great Britain, France, and Germany. Although these countries are geographically contingent and share a similar civilizational history and culture, their political and economic institutions have evolved in distinct ways. A study of these similarities and differences will therefore help us to better understand how institutions develop and political conflicts are channeled in these and other countries.
We will examine politics in these countries from several perspectives. A focus on political culture will give us a historical framework with which to examine contemporary institutions, with particular emphasis on the role of monarchs, presidents and prime ministers, cabinets, legislatures, political parties, ideologies, elections, interest groups, federal arrangements, the bureaucracy, and courts. Institutions, however, are created by people in specific historical circumstances. Thus, we will also explore how political institutions of different sorts have acted on social conflicts, and how conflicts at times have influenced or shaped institutions. In addition, individual countries are hardly immune from outside international events and the pressures of globalization. This wider context includes the history of postwar economic and political reconstruction, the role of Superpower conflicts in shaping West European politics, the legacy of decolonization, and attempts to create a federal European political structure in response to the challenges of a globalizing world.
A study of comparative politics involves learning to ask good questions in order to get good answers. For this reason, each lecture addresses a question as indicated on the syllabus. Such frameworks are needed in order to make sense of the multitude of 'raw facts' presented throughout the readings. Without a framework of understanding, such details can become overwhelming. The question associated with each lecture identifies a goal for that class meeting: At the end of each lecture, you should be able to answer the question posed for the day.
No previous study of Western European politics is required to succeed in this course. Mastery of the subject, however, requires an active commitment on your part. This includes: attending all classes, participating in discussions, doing all readings in a timely matter, and thinking about the material as you prepare assignments and study for tests. You will find that an active engagement will make class and study much more interesting; moreover, the study of politics in other countries will automatically help you to better understand politics in your own country.
Course Requirements
1) Completion of assigned readings
2) Regular class attendance and participation in class discussions
(20%)
3) Mid-term (20%)
4) Research Paper (8 pages minimum) (20%)
5) Political Journal (final four weeks of semester) (10%)
6) Final Exam (30%)
Course Goals
Required Readings
(available in book store)
Jorgen S. Rasmussen and Joel C. Moses, Major European Governments (9th edition)
J. Robert Wegs and Robert Ladrech, Europe Since 1945 (4th edition)
*Photocopied packet from duplicating services.
Class Participation
Simply coming to class is not sufficient to get full credit for participation. You are encouraged to note items of relevance you might have come across in the morning newspaper, from other classes, other reading, or from your own experiences. Such contributions contribute enormously to a successful course. Being active will also make the class more rewarding for you in a number of ways. Grades will be based on the quantity and quality of participation:
19-20 Integral part of the class with frequent, insightful
contributions
17-18 Participates fully in classroom discussions
15-16 Infrequent participation but with focus
12-14 Infrequent participation and lacks focus
10-11 Rarely participates, and only with prompting
0-9 Does not participate, rarely in class
Mid-term and Final Examinations
Both mid-term and final exams will be closed book. They will consist of objective questions, identification of terms, and essay questions.
Missed Tests
There will be no makeup tests except in grave instances. These make-up tests will consist entirely of essay questions.
Research Paper
Students will complete a research paper on a topic related to contemporary politics in another Western European country besides Britain, France, or Germany. We will discuss suitable topics, formats, and sources during class. Each student should meet with me to discuss the research topic. To help you avoid procrastination, a short and tentative outline and bibliography will be due in class on November 7.
The paper must be no less than eight pages long. Grades will be based on content, analysis, organization, and style. We will discuss this in more detail during class.
Political Journal
During the last weeks of the semester you will keep a journal on Western European politics. The journal will consist of weekly entries documenting your reading of various print or internet sources devoted to reporting political and economic events in Britain, France and Germany. More information about the content and structure of the journal will be given out in class.
Late Papers
Late papers will be penalized a full letter grade without exception.
CLASS SCHEDULE
I. AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
1. Introduction (9/8)
2. What is Comparative Politics? (9/10)
Rasmussen, Introduction
II. WESTERN EUROPE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR
3. How did Super power conflict influence politics in Western Europe? (9/12)
Wegs, Chapters 1 and 3
4. In what ways did American aid assure the economic and political recovery of West European societies in the postwar era? (9/15)
Wegs, Chapters 4 and 5
5. How did the rise of the "postwar settlement" affect politics? (9/17)
Wegs, Chapters 9 and 10
*Kesselman, Mark and Joel Krieger, "European Politics in Transition"
6. How did the rapid economic growth of the 1950s and 1960s generate social protest by the 1960s and 1970s? (9/19)
Wegs, Chapters 6, 12 and 14
III. THE UNITED KINGDOM
7. Geography: Did Britain's geographic isolation influence its political development? (9/22)
Rasmussen, Chapter 1
8. Constitution: How did an unwritten constitution take shape in Britain? (9/24)
Rasmussen, Chapter 2
9. The Executive: How do parties make governments in the British parliamentary system? (9/26)
Rasmussen, Chapter 6
10. The Legislature I: What difference does it make that parties form governments in this way?(9/29)
Rasmussen, Chapter 5
11. The Legislature II: How does parliamentary government differ from presidential government? (10/1)
*Verney, Douglas V., "Parliamentary Government and Presidential Government"
*Bagehot, Walter, "The English Constitution: The Cabinet"
12. The Parties: Why does Britain have "two plus" parties? (10/3)
Rasmussen, Chapter 4
13. Conservatives vs. Labor: Do parties make a difference for government policy? (10/6)
Rasmussen, Chapter 4
14. Elections: How do elections and interest groups influence political outcomes? (10/8)
Rasmussen, Chapter 3
15. Civil Service and Judiciary: What is the role of common law in British justice? (10/10)
Rasmussen, Chapters 7 & 8
16. Did Thatcher "turn around" government policies in Britain? (10/13)
Rasmussen, Chapter 9
17. Is Labour's Transformation a Success or a Failure of European Socialism? (10/15)
*Fred Barbash, "Labor Rides 'Tidal Wave' Into Power", Washington Post, May 2, 1997.
*"Europe Wheels to the Right", The Economist, May 10, 1997
(10/17) Reading Day
18. MID-TERM (10/20)
IV. FRANCE
19 How did the French Revolution influence France's political development? (10/22)
Rasmussen, Chapter 10
20. Did constitutional engineering doom the French Fourth Republic but ensure the success of the Fifth? (10/24)
Rasmussen, Chapter 11
21. The Executive: Did dual leadership improve government in France? (10/27)
Rasmussen, Chapter 15
*De Gaulle, Charles, "The Bayeux Manifesto"
*Blondel, Jean, "Dual Leadership in the Contemporary World"
22. The Legislature: Does a strong Executive weaken legislative effectiveness? (10/29)
Rasmussen, Chapter 14
23. The Legislature: (cont.) (10/31)
Rasmussen, Chapter 14
24. The Parties: How do social cleavages structure party systems? (11/3)
Rasmussen, Chapter 13
25. Is the National Front an extreme-Right party? (11/5)
Rasmussen, Chapter 13
26. Do French electoral laws provide greater choice for voters? (11/7)
Rasmussen, Chapter 12
**RESEARCH PAPER GENERAL OUTLINE AND BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE
27. Judiciary and Bureaucracy: What is the Bureaucracy's impact on public policy? How is Roman law different from common law? (11/10)
Rasmussen, Chapters 16, 17 & 18
**BEGIN POLITICAL JOURNALS THIS WEEK
28. Can France Politically Resist Neo-liberal Europe? (11/12)
*"Vive la Difference?", The Economist, July 26, 1997
*Trueheart, Charles, "French Proudly Hold Fast to Benevolent Central Rule", Washington Post, July 14, 1997
*E. J. Dionne, Jr., "A Little Less Lean, Considerably Less Mean", Washington Post, June 6, 1997.
V. GERMANY
29. Does Germany's fragmented and authoritarian history inhibit the development of political democracy today? (11/14)
Rasmussen, Chapter 19
30. Did institutions or "political re-education" stabilize West German democracy? (11/17)
Rasmussen, Chapter 20
31. The Executive: How does a strong chancellor influence political decision-making in Germany's parliamentary democracy? (11/19)
Rasmussen, Chapter 24
32. The Legislature: What is the significance of institutional arrangements in determining the character of Germany's Bundestag and Bundesrat?(11/21)
Rasmussen, Chapter 23
33. The Legislature (continued) (11/24):
Rasmussen, Chapter 23
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS! 11/26-28
34. Parties: Why did Germany's major parties transform their ideologies into broad "catch-all" appeals? (12/1)
Rasmussen, Chapter 22
35. Elections: How does Germany's hybrid system of proportional representation influence elections? (12/3)
Chapter 21
36. Bureaucracy and Courts: How are individual and social interests balanced in the German judicial system? (12/5)
Chapters 25 and 26
37. Reunification and the Right: Does a reunified Germany mean an end to a stable and prosperous Germany?(12/8)
Chapter 27
*"Divided Still: A Survey of Germany", The Economist, November 9, 1996.
**RESEARCH PAPERS DUE
38. Are the Greens the Wave of the future in Germany (and Western Europe)? (12/10)
*Drozdiak, William, "Germany's Greens Grow Up", Washington Post, August 2, 1997
VI. EUROPEAN UNION?
39. European Union: Why are Western European countries agreeing to unify?(12/12)
Rasmussen, Chapter 38
Wegs, Chapter 8
**POLITICAL JOURNALS DUE AT END OF CLASS
*FINAL EXAM: