20270 - COMPARATIVE POLITICS
CLMG - M - IM - MM - AFC - CLAPI - CLEFIN-FINANCE - CLELI - ACME - DES-ESS - EMIT
Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to the major debates, topics, and methods of comparative politics with a particular focus on contemporary democratization processes and political regimes. The course is divided in two main parts. The first part begins with the introduction and discussion of the concepts of state, conflict, liberalism and democracy. The key notion of democracy, in particular, is the object of close scrutiny and operationalization. Special attention is devoted to the economic and cultural causes of democratization processes and to the modes of regime transitions in areas such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. Finally, the impact of democratic reforms on economic growth and welfare policies is examined. The second part is focused on two cases: China and Russia.
- State, conflict and democracy
- Democracy: concepts and operationalization
- Democratization: main causes and modes of transition
- The effects of democratic reforms
- Democratic reforms in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa
- Political institutions in advanced democracies
- Oral presentation (or paper, maximum 5.000 words): 30% of the final grade
- Written exam (75 minutes): 70% of the final grade
Coursepack (available at MASTERCOPY, Via Sarfatti, 1 - from 1 February 2012)