Module:                                 PCP201 Comparative Government and Politics

Programme:                         B.A. Political Science and Sociology

Credit Value:                        12

Module Tutor:                       

1. General Objective

The module will cover the study of the political systems and major constitutions of the world by adopting a comparative approach that will cover the constitutional and legal provisions, the ideological basis, the institutional arrangements and the social and economic backgrounds in order to enable students to understand the differences and similarities between the various constitutional arrangements. The module also aims to develop students' understanding of the evolution of the political systems and major constitutions of the world through an emphasis on the historical and political backgrounds of individual constitutions.  Furthermore, the political institutions will be studied in the light of the political process to help students gain an understanding of the dynamics of actual politics and policy making.

2. Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

• Explain the evolution of comparative politics as a discipline.

• Evaluate critically the major political systems of the world

• Analyze the concept of governance in relation to developing countries.

• Differentiate between various types of political regimes.

• Define the concept of party system and pressure groups.

• Explain the political culture of world politics

• Identify some Bhutanese political trends and culture

3. Learning and teaching approach

4. Assessment Approach

A. Assignments: Portion of Final marks: (40%)

There will be two assignments. First assignment will be during the first half of the semester and 2nd during the second half the semester with weighting of 40 percent.

B. Mid-Semester Examination: Portion of Final Marks: (15%)

Mid-term exam will be conducted in the middle of the semester (after covering half of the syllabus). The questions will be cumulative coverage of the syllabus. The idea is to test the understanding of the subject.

C. Presentation: Portion of Final Marks: (15%)

Students have to make one presentation based on the topic distributed by the module tutor.

D. Semester-end Examination: Portion of Final Marks: (40%) Semester end Examination for the duration of three hours.

 Pre-requisite: SPT102 Introduction to Political Science

1. Subject matter

4.1.           Unit I: Comparative Politics:

4.1.1.       Evolution; historical development of comparative politics in the post war era

4.1.2.       Meaning, Nature and Scope of comparative politics

4.1.3.     Modern Approaches and Methods; behavioral, traditional, structural-functional, systems approach.

4.2.           Unit II:  Issues in Comparative Politics:

4.2.1.       Why Governments? – Importance of the role of government and the need for the government and defining government

4.2.2.       Why we compare? – Describe, explain and predict the different systems

4.2.3.       How  we  compare?  –  Seven  fold  classification  of  political system

4.2.4.       Systems,   environments   and   interdependence   –   system, structure and function of the political systems.

4.3.           Unit III: Government and Policy:

4.3.1.       Constitution  and  the  legal  framework:  constitutions,  judicial review, constitutional courts, judicial activism, independence and recruitment,

4.3.2.       Administrative   law,   law   in   new   democracies,   law   in authoritarian states, and international law.

4.3.3.       Federal, Unitary and local government: Federalism, Federal- state relations, Assessing federalism, Unitary government, Local government, Subnational government in new democracies, and Subnational government in authoritarian states.

4.3.4.       Legislature: structure, function, recruitment, legislatures in new democracies, and legislatures in authoritarian state.

4.3.5.    Executive: Political Executive, Presidential government, Parliamentary government and semi-presidential government, the executive in new democracies, and the executive  in  authoritarian states.

4.3.6.   Bureaucracy:    evolution,    recruitment,    organization, accountability, new public management, bureaucracy in new democracies, bureaucracy in authoritarian states, bureaucracy and democracy.

4.4.           Unit IV: Political systems:

4.4.1.       Evolution of the constitution, Ideological basis, Characteristics of the constitution,

4.4.2.       Institutional arrangements-executive, legislature, judiciary,

4.4.3.       Political Participation-Parties and Pressure Groups.

4.4.4.       The  Electoral  process  of  the  following:  United  States  of America, United Kingdom, India, China, South Africa,

4.4.5.       Features   of   Non   Western   Political   System   (Developing countries like Thailand, Cambodia etc).

4.5.           Unit V: Political Culture:

4.5.1.       An Introduction to: Civic culture: Meaning, nature and scope.

4.5.2.       Political trust and social capital: Meaning, nature and scope.

4.5.3.       Post materialism: Meaning, nature and scope.

4.5.4.       Political  culture  in  New  Democracies:  Meaning,  nature  and scope.

4.5.5.       Political culture in authoritarian states: Nature and scope.

4.5.6.       Political socialization: Meaning, nature and scope.

5. Reading List

5.1.           Essential Reading

Almond, (2000), Comparative Politics Today: A World View. New York: Harper. Almond, G.A. (1972), Comparative Politics. Boston: Addison Wessely.

Harrop, M. & Hague, R. (2013). Comparative Government and Politics. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Hutchison, H. C., (1973), An Introduction to Chinese Politics. London: David and Charles.

Kavanagh, D. (2000), British politics: Continuities and Change.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Landman, T. (2008). Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Oxon: Routledge

Date: December 2015