International and Public Affairs Cluster

School of Social Science

Pietermaritzburg Campus

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Title

Comparative Government and Politics

Course Code

POLS 304

Credits

16

Semester

Second Semester

Year of Offering

2016

Venue

Room C3

Lecturer

Innocent A. Daudu
DauduI@ukzn.ac.za
Room 343, Extension5012, New Art Building.

1. INTRODUCTION
Dear Students,
This course introduces you to comparative government and politics as a major sub-field of
Political Science. The major concepts, theories and models associated with the study of
comparative politics such as the state, techniques of comparing, political culture, institutions,
stability and structural-functionalism are explored. Selected developed and developing
countries (USA, France, Nigeria and South Africa) are therefore carefully examined; their
political structures, functions, processes and policies are compared with each other.
Consideration is also given to contemporary global events with the aim of developing
comparative analytical skills and critical thinking abilities.

2. Expectations
Attendance is required for this course. In accordance with the universitys academic conduct
policies, I expect you to respect the formal learning environment, conduct yourself properly
in class and respect other class mates and the lecturer too. You are also expected to participate
actively in class. By participating, you will gain more and help others to learn from your
experiences. You are encouraged to use your study materials and consult the recommended
text, with the view of improving your grasp and making your participation more productive.
Individuals with special needs are strongly encouraged to ask for assistance. Finally, I look
forward to a very fruitful semester, working with you.
3. CONSULTATION TIME AND MEETING SCHEDULE

Meeting schedule

Monday 10: 30am - 11: 15am, 11: 25am - 12:10pm.

Friday 2 : 10pm - 2 : 55pm

Monday - 12:30 - 2:30

Consultation time Tuesday -12:30-2:30

4. DEFINITION OF TERMS
COURSE OUTLINE; The course outline represents a contract between students and the
lecturer, containing the requirements, aims, learning outcomes and assessment plan.
FLEXIBILITY: Assessment practices being flexible enough to accommodate the scope of
knowledge and skills covered by the assessment criteria, variations in context, the range of
needs and the personal circumstances of all potential candidates.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Assisting and supporting learning by advising the learner
about his or her rate of progress against competency standards.
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Is assessment that enables the educator to sum up the extent
of the learners progress at the end of a learning programme or a finite part of the programme.
TRANSPARENCY: The assessment process is clear and open to everyone making use of it.
5. COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES
At the end of the semester, students are expected to;
1. Understand the scope of Comparative politics as a sub-field of political science and
identify key governmental institutions and understand their functions;
2. Identify and describe the factors that have shaped political institutions and structures;
3. Describe the evolution of cultural norms, attitudes, ideologies and traditions that affect the
way in which politics is viewed and conducted;
4. Outline and be able to classify political forms, including the ways in which leaders are
chosen and power is distributed and restrained;
5. Identify the role non-governmental and social organizations, such as political parties and
interest groups play, and the manner in which individual citizens participate in politics;
6. Explain the patterns of political interaction among the various actors with regard to how
they seek goals and exercise power, answering the questions of how policy is made and
implemented;
7. Evaluate and assess the political performance of a given state in terms of its policy
outcomes, such as economic development, political stability, social equality, personal liberty
and quality of life;
8. Compare and contrast one country to another using structural functionalist or other
comparative models, with regard to each of the above;
9. Apply differing models and alternatives in political structures and policy approaches to a
given problem, and evaluate their effectiveness and usefulness;

10. Evaluate ones own political system, its strengths and its weaknesses, by comparing it to
others.

6. TOPICS WITH SCHEDULING

WEEK
1-2

LECTURE PLAN
INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
What is comparative politics
Basic terms and concepts
States- Definition, Characteristics and Classification
The science of comparing
Why we compare countries
The risk of comparing
What we compare
How we compare/comparison techniques

3-4

APPROACHES TO STUDYING POLITICS

Traditional approaches to the study of Political Science.
Modern approaches to the study of Political Science;
Behaviouralism and Post-behaviouralism
Systems Approach
Structural-Functional Approach
Communication Theory Approach
Decision Making Approach
INSTITUTIONAL MODELS
The constitution
The executive
The Legislature
The bureaucracy
Political Parties
Electoral system, and Elections
MID SEMESTER BREAK
STRUCTURAL MODELS
Physical, social, cultural and economic conditions
Political culture
Interest articulation/interest groups
Political communication
Political participation
ACTOR MODELS
Degree of freedom
Charisma
Leadership duration
Orientation of leaders

5-8

9-11

11-12

13

REVISION

7. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:
1.

Lectures

2.

Discussions

3.

Class debates

4.

Individual or group reports

5.

Pictures, graphs, and documentaries

8. ASSESSMENT
The assessment of student assignments shall be based on the quality of the paper or
presentation, late submissions are not allowed. Marks shall be awarded based of the
following considerations; Technicality, Arrangement and Outlook, Originality, Coherence
and Referencing. For the purpose of emphasis, originality is important as plagiarism is
highly discouraged.
9. TYPES OF ASSIGNMENTS:
1. The student may be assigned short papers, classroom oral reports, classroom written test,
and essays emphasizing political processes, political institutions, functional equivalents, and
public problems and policies of various nations.
2. Follow particular countries and comparative issues in available magazines, journals and
newspapers.
3. Discuss relevant topics with men and women familiar with the country or event concerned.

10. COURSE ASSESSMENT PLAN

Class test
Group assignment
Individual essay of 2000words
Examination
TOTAL

05/09/2016
03/10/2016
10/10/2016
November TBA

15%
15%
20%
50%
100%

11. RECOMMENDED TEXT

Introduction to Comparative Politics
Todd Landman, Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction, 2nd
edition (London: Routledge, 2003) pp 4-20
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An
Introduction, 9th edition (Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) pp 1-74
Todd Landman, Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction, 2nd
edition (London: Routledge, 2003) pp 24-37
Structural Models
Jan-Erik Lane & Svante Ersson, Comparative Politics: An Introduction and New
Approach, (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 1994) pp 123-151
Howard J. Wiarda, Introduction to Comparative Politics: Concepts and Processes,
(Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2000) pp 62-78
Mattei Dogan & Dominique Pelassy, How To Compare Nations: Strategies in
Comparative Politics, (Chatham, New Jersey: Chatham House, 1990) pp 68-77
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An
Introduction, 6th edition (Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004) pp 89104
Gabriel Almond, Comparative Politics, (USA: Little Brown, 1966) pp 73-97
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An
Introduction, 6th edition (Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004) pp 105121
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An
Introduction, 6th edition (Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004) pp 122141
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An
Introduction, 6th edition (Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004) pp 166184

Institutional Models
Jan-Erik Lane & Svante Ersson, Comparative Politics: An Introduction and New
Approach, (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 1994) pp 152-172
Kenneth Newton and Jan W. Van Deth, Foundations of Comparative Politics,
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005) pp 41-59
Todd Landman, Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction, 2nd
edition (London: Routledge, 2003) pp 180-200
Kenneth Newton and Jan W. Van Deth, Foundations of Comparative Politics,
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005) pp 60-71
Kenneth Newton and Jan W. Van Deth, Foundations of Comparative Politics,
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005) pp 100-115
Pippa Norris, Choosing Electoral Systems: Proportional, Majoritarian and Mixed
Systems, International Political Science Review, Vol. 18 No. 3 (1997) pp 297-312
Jan-Erik Lane & Svante Ersson, The New Institutional Politics: Performance and
Outcomes, (London: Routledge, 2000) pp181-206
Rod Hague & Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics: An
Introduction, 6th edition (Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004) pp 185205
Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and Shaun Breslin, Comparative Government and
Politics: An Introduction, 4th edition (London: Macmillan Press, 1998) pp 96-112
Kenneth Newton and Jan W. Van Deth, Foundations of Comparative Politics,
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005) pp 200-220
Actor Models
Jan-Erik Lane & Svante Ersson, Comparative Politics: An Introduction and New
Approach, (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 1994) pp 173-184
Ann Ruth Willner & Dorothy Willner, The Rise and Role of Charismatic Leaders,
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 358 (1965) pp
77-88
Carl Friedrich, Political Leadership and the Problem of the Charismatic Power, The
Journal of Politics, Vol. 23, No. 1 (1961) pp 3-24
Ludger Helms, Presidents, Prime Ministers and Chancellors, (New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2005) pp 58-89
Farouk Chothia and Sean Jacobs, Remaking the presidency: The tension between coordination and centralisation, in Sean Jacobs and Richard Calland, Thabo Mbekis

World: The Politics and Ideology of the South African President, (Scottsville:
University of Natal Press, 2002) pp 145-161

Country Studies
United States of America
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger and William Joseph (eds.), Introduction to
Comparative Politics, 3rd edition, (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2004) pp 297-343
Alan Grant, The American Political Process, 3rd edition, (England: Gower, 1986) pp
21-105, pp 163-263
Nigeria
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger and William Joseph (eds.), Introduction to
Comparative Politics, 3rd edition, (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2004) pp 514-569
S. Egite Oyovbaire, Federalism in Nigeria, (London and Basingstoke: Macmillan,
1885) pp 1-27
Oladimeji Aborisade & Robert J. Mundt, Politics in Nigeria, 2nd edition, (New York:
Longman, 2002) pp 51-92, pp106-179
South Africa
Albert Venter and Chris Landsberg(eds.), Government and Politics in South Africa, 4th
.
edition (Pretoria: Van Schaik, 2011) pp 20-77
.
Albert Venter and Chris Landsberg(eds.), Government and Politics in South Africa, 4th
.
edition (Pretoria: Van Schaik, 2011) pp 180-210
France
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger and William Joseph (eds.), Introduction to
Comparative Politics, 3rd edition, (Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 2004) pp 82-134
Paulo Canelas Rapaz, Semi-presidential government: not a political system model at
all, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the MPSA Annual National
Conference, Palmer House Hotel, Hilton, Chicago, IL, Apr 03, 2008