[POL 160] Comparative Politics

Introduction

"Whether you accept it or not, if you are of European extraction, or were raised on T-bones and Pepsis or even wear Eddie Bauer gear, you will be taken for a Yank in most of Russia, Asia, Australasia, or Central and South America. Africans will probably mistake you for being German or French, and the Chinese have a tendency to think all Westerners and Europeans are the same. Even the African American traveler finds himself being simply a rich American when he looks for his roots in black Africa." (Fielding's The World's Most Dangerous Places)

If you have ever been annoyed at being lumped in with everyone else from your particular culture, country, region, civilization, or hemisphere, this course is to help prevent you from making the same mistake. The world is diverse politically, socially, and culturally. In this course, a select set of countries that have chosen diverse political structures will be highlighted. The social/cultural foundations that have resulted in a country's political structure will also be addressed.

Description

UW Colleges Catalog Course Description for POL 175: International Politics - 3 credits. Studies a select set of important states with different political, economic and cultural characteristics. Compares economic, social and political issues and policy choices, in addition to governance. Recommended for business, journalism, education, and political science majors. This course fulfills the UWC requirement for Social Sciences (SS).

Proficiencies

Institutional proficiencies assigned to this course

Successful completion of this course will enhance students' ability to

• interpret and synthesize information and ideas;
• analyze and evaluate arguments;
• gather and assess information from printed sources, electronic sources, and observation;
• demonstrate a large and varied vocabulary.

Department-specific proficiencies assigned to this course

By completing this course, students will understand

• what power is and how it is distributed in local, national, and/or global institutions of government;
• how to critically analyze political arguments, issues, and events.

Requirements

Software

• Microsoft Word.

  The most current edition of MS Office (containing MS Word, PowerPoint and other valuable programs) is available to University of Wisconsin students at discounted prices through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.

About the Instructors

• Frederick Appah
  Lecturer, Political Science
  BA, University of Ghana
  MA, International Affairs, Ohio University
  MA, Political Science, Ohio University
  PhD, West Virginia University
  
• Eric Kasper
  Assistant Professor, Political Science
  BA, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  MA, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Nathan Zook
  Assistant Professor, Political Science
  BA, Townson University
  MA, Indiana University-Bloomington
  PhD, Indiana University-Bloomington