Ludwitt
Intermediate Level
Comparative Political Systems (CIV201)
This course explores the diversity of political systems around the world, examining how different nations structure their governments, electoral systems, and political institutions. Students will develop analytical frameworks for comparing political arrangements and understanding their historical and cultural contexts.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze different systems of government and constitutional arrangements
- Compare electoral systems and their impacts on representation and governance
- Evaluate the relationships between political institutions and societal outcomes
- Apply comparative frameworks to analyze political developments across nations
- Assess the influence of historical and cultural factors on political systems
- Examine transitions between different political systems and regime types
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Comparative Politics
- The comparative method in political analysis
- Key variables and concepts in comparative study
- Historical development of comparative political science
- Major theoretical approaches in comparative politics
- Challenges and limitations in comparative analysis
- Case selection and research design in comparative studies
Module 2: Systems of Government
- Presidential, parliamentary, and semi-presidential systems
- Federal, unitary, and confederal arrangements
- Constitutional frameworks and design
- Centralization vs. decentralization of power
- Separation of powers and checks and balances
- Institutional veto players and decision-making
- Case studies of diverse governmental systems
Module 3: Electoral Systems and Party Politics
- Electoral formulas: proportional, majoritarian, and mixed systems
- Electoral system effects on representation and governance
- Political party systems and their development
- Party organization and competition across systems
- Voting behavior in comparative perspective
- Electoral reform and institutional design
- Digital innovations in electoral processes
Module 4: Democracy and Authoritarianism
- Concepts and measurements of democracy
- Varieties of democratic systems
- Authoritarian regime types and governance
- Hybrid regimes and competitive authoritarianism
- Democratic transitions and consolidation
- Backsliding and democratic erosion
- Cross-national patterns of regime development
Module 5: Political Economy in Comparative Perspective
- Varieties of capitalism and welfare states
- Economic systems and political institutions
- Models of development and state capacity
- Inequality and redistribution across systems
- Political economy of reforms and policy change
- Global economic integration and domestic politics
- Comparative approaches to economic crisis management
Key Assessments
- 1.Comparative Case Study (25%)
In-depth comparison of political institutions and processes across two countries
- 2.Political System Analysis (20%)
Detailed analysis of a specific aspect of political systems across multiple cases
- 3.Electoral System Simulation (25%)
Analysis of how different electoral systems affect outcomes using empirical data
- 4.Comparative Politics Research Paper (30%)
Original research applying comparative methods to a significant political question
Required Resources
Primary Textbooks
- Clark, W., Golder, M., & Golder, S. (2021). Principles of Comparative Politics (4th ed.). CQ Press.
- Lichbach, M. I., & Zuckerman, A. S. (Eds.). (2009). Comparative Politics: Rationality, Culture, and Structure (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Supplementary Resources
- Journal articles from Comparative Political Studies and World Politics
- Country case study materials and constitutional documents
- Datasets from V-Dem, Polity, and Freedom House
- Electoral system design databases and resources
Comparative Government Systems
| System Type | Key Features | Examples | Strengths/Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential | Directly elected executive, fixed terms, separation of powers | United States, Brazil, South Korea | + Clear leadership, checks and balances − Potential for gridlock, winner-takes-all |
| Parliamentary | Executive drawn from and dependent on legislature, parliamentary confidence | United Kingdom, Germany, Japan | + Flexible, cooperative governance − Potential instability, party dominance |
| Semi-Presidential | Dual executive (president and prime minister), shared powers | France, Portugal, Taiwan | + Balanced powers, flexibility − Potential cohabitation conflicts |
| Federal | Constitutionally divided sovereignty between levels of government | United States, Germany, India | + Local autonomy, policy laboratories − Complex governance, potential inequality |
| Unitary | Central government holds ultimate authority over all regions | France, Japan, Sweden | + Policy coherence, efficiency − May neglect regional needs |
Electoral System Simulator
Interactive tool to visualize how the same vote distribution produces different outcomes under various electoral systems.
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Regime Type Explorer
Explore global patterns of democracy, authoritarianism, and hybrid regimes over time using interactive visualizations.
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Government System Analyzer
Analyze the key institutional features of different government systems around the world.
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Course Schedule
| Week | Topic | Assignments |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Foundations of Comparative Politics | Research design exercise |
| 3-5 | Systems of Government | System classification analysis |
| 6-8 | Electoral Systems and Party Politics | Electoral system simulation assignment |
| 9-11 | Democracy and Authoritarianism | Regime analysis case study |
| 12-14 | Political Economy in Comparative Perspective | Comparative political economy brief |
| 15-16 | Research Presentations and Synthesis | Final research paper and presentation |