List of Courses

Information
Description
Outcomes
Contents
Methodologies
Assessment
Books

Theory of Comparative Politics

Course Code :
PSC 200
Level :
Undergraduate
Course Hours :
3.00 Hours
Department :
Department of Public Administration

Instructor information :

Area of Study :

This course portrays an introduction to the analysis of comparative politics. It introduces a theoretical framework of up-to-date approaches and methodologies used in analyzing political systems comparatively. Fundamentally, the course covers the functions and structure of the state, through studying the relationship between the executive, legislative and judicial authorities in the different forms of political systems; this being either the parliamentary, presidential or semi-presidential systems. This is whilst focusing on the different tiers of government, the media in politics, interest and pressure groups and political parties in the context of the political system. Additionally, in light of the Arab Revolutions, the course tackles theories on uprising, revolutions and democratic transitions in different political systems. Course Goals: • Address the prime approaches used today in studying political system; • Provide a thorough understanding of a wide range of concepts associated with the regional, international and domestic political affairs such as state, government systems; • Analyze how different practices by political systems of different natures, can have regional and international influences, in particular the position of the Arab region, while keeping Egypt at the center of attention.

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

Theory of Comparative Politics

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

Theory of Comparative Politics

Course outcomes:

a. Knowledge and Understanding:

1-	Define the difference between types of governments and political systems.
2-	Recognize the difference between theory and practice in different chosen case studies.
3-	Identify changes between democracy to non-democratic systems, or the other way around, and why and how they happen.

b. Intellectual Skills:

1-	Explain why the political systems of the world’s superpowers act in certain situations as they do.
2-	Combine theoretical to practical issues and analyze them.
3-	Examine substantial regional and international issues and factors such as the current people revolts in different parts of the world, and be able to draw traits and trends.

c. Professional and Practical Skills:

1-	Relate the different given case studies to regional and other international cases to understand the pro and cons of each experience.
2-	Illustrate a relatively strong understanding of current and historical events related to the chosen cases.
3-	Analyze how the stance of the Arab revolutions has impacted on regional and international calculations in theory and in practice.

d. General and Transferable Skills:

1-	Think of different scenarios, scenario building method, as opposed to those practiced by world leaders and political systems.
2-	Compare between different events and how different political systems or states reacted to them.
3-	Evaluate the performance of regional and international political actors to the Arab Spring, Ukrainian Uprisings and the like.

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

Theory of Comparative Politics

Course topics and contents:

Topic	No. of hours	Lecture
Introductory Lecture and Course Outline	3	1
Definitions: Political systems, regimes, revolutions, uprisings, democracy and dictatorship	3	1
Theoretical: Media and Politics (and practical cases)	3	1
Theoretical: Minorities and uprisings in politics shaping (and a practical case)	6	2
Regional trends in political practice	3	1
Midterm Exam		1
International trends: revolutions, “call for democracy”, fall of capitalism?	6	2
Practice: Ukraine	3	1
Practice: The Arab Revolutions	3	1
Practice: (other case studies of choice)	6	2
Comparative session and analytical feedback	3	1
Final Exam		1

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

Theory of Comparative Politics

Teaching And Learning Methodologies:

Teaching and learning methods
Demonstration videos
Presentation
Simulations
Debates
Group discussion
Research Paper

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

Theory of Comparative Politics

Course Assessment :

Methods of assessment	Relative weight %	Week No.	Assess What
Course Work (Attendance, Participation, Assignments, Quizzes, Research Paper…)	30.00		To assess understanding, and to assess theoretical background of the intellectual and practical skills.
Final Exam	40.00	15	To assess knowledge and intellectual skills.
Midterm Exam(s)	30.00	7	To assess professional skills.

For further information :

Telephone: 16383 (16FUE)
E-mail: [email protected]

Theory of Comparative Politics

Books:

Book	Author	Publisher

Recommended books :

Charles Hauss, Melissa Haussman, Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, Cengage Learning, 2012. Danielle Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014.