POLS 301 Comparative Politics MEF UniversityDegree Programs Political Science and International RelationsGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Political Science and International Relations
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences
Course Code POLS 301
Course Title in English Comparative Politics
Course Title in Turkish Comparative Politics
Language of Instruction EN
Type of Course Fieldwork
Level of Course Introductory
Semester Spring
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 3 Recitation: Lab: Other:
Estimated Student Workload 130 hours per semester
Number of Credits 5 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites None
Expected Prior Knowledge None
Co-requisites None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective This course offers some basic analytical skills to understand a wide range of political systems, institutions and behaviors around the world.
Course Description This course aims a broad survey of some of the major debates on key theories, arguments and issues in the field of comparative politics, such as state formation, political systems, civil society, democratization, political culture and economic development.
Course Description in Turkish Bu dersin amacı karşılaştırmalı siyaset alanının temelini oluşturan devletin oluşumu, siyasal sistemler, sivil toplum, demokratikleşme, siyasal kültür ve ekonomik kalkınma gibi konularda var olan temel teori ve kavramların vaka analizlerine dayanarak incelenmesidir.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) understand major debates on key theories, arguments and issues in the field of comparative politics.
2) know some basic analytical tools to examine a wide range of political systems, institutions and behaviors around the world
3) Answer some important substantive questions including: Why are some countries democratic while others are not? How can we account for the emergence of different regime types?
4) apply a specific country cases in order to use empirical evidences to address a wide variety questions in the comparative politics subfield. The countries to be discussed are: Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, Brazil and Iran.
5) compare and contrast selected case studies of democratic, authoritarian, and semi-authoritarian governments
6) analyze current events using theories and approaches relevant to the subfield
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5 6
1) Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues.
2) Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts
3) Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice
4) Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions.
5) Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software
6) Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies
7) Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems
8) Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies
9) Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life
10) Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. H Exam
2) Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts H Exam
3) Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice H Exam
4) Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. H Exam
5) Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software H Exam
6) Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies H Exam
7) Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems H Exam
8) Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies N Exam
9) Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life S Exam
10) Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad S Exam
Prepared by and Date EVRİM GÖRMÜŞ , December 2023
Course Coordinator EVRİM GÖRMÜŞ
Semester Spring
Name of Instructor Assoc. Prof. Dr. EVRİM GÖRMÜŞ

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) What is Comparative Politics?
2) State Formation
3) Nations and Society
4) Political Economy of Regime Types
5) Political Economy of Regime Types
6) models of Democracy: Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-presidential Systems
7) Non-Democratic Regimes and Regime Transitions
8) MIDTERM
9) The US-The UK
10) France
11) Germany
12) Russia
13) Germany
14) Iran-Brazil
Required/Recommended ReadingsO'neil, Patrick H. Essentials of Comparative Politics: Fifth International Student Edition. WW Norton & Company, 2015 (Required). Roskin, Michael G. Countries and Concepts: Politics, Geography, Culture. Pearson, 2015 (Required).
Teaching MethodsIt would be used interactive format, combining professor lecture presentations with intense student participation and dynamic multi-media sessions
Homework and ProjectsCountry Report: Students are required to prepare and deliver a short presentation that interacts with the main issues in the field of comparative politics within the context of the selected country.
Laboratory Work
Computer Use
Other Activities
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 14 % 10
Midterm(s) 1 % 30
Paper Submission 1 % 20
Final Examination 1 % 40
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration gormuse@mef.edu.tr
02123953600
Plagiarism including “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work” and multiple submissions (submitting the same paper for more than one course) would be accepted as violation of the honor code and will be reported to the dean.

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 2 2 2 84
Homework Assignments 1 8 8
Midterm(s) 2 8 2 20
Final Examination 1 16 2 18
Total Workload 130
Total Workload/25 5.2
ECTS 5