17.50 Introduction to Comparative Politics, Spring 2006
Name
17-50Spring-2006/OcwWeb/Political-Science/17-50Spring-2006/CourseHome/index.htm
Size
15.03 KB
Format
HTML
Checksum (MD5)
a1ed22c8c0fa232473bc7189437c023d
Author(s)
Lawson, Chappell H., 1967-
Alternative Title
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Date Issued
June 2006
Abstract
This class first offers some basic analytical frameworks -- culture, social structure, and institutions -- that you can use examine a wide range of political outcomes. We then use these frameworks to understand (1) the relationship between democracy and economic development and (2) the relative centralization of political authority across countries. We will use theoretical arguments and a wide range of case studies to address several questions: Why are some countries democratic and others not? How does democracy affect economic development and political conflict? Why do some countries centralize power while others threaten to fall apart through secession and civil war? We will use examples from a wide range of countries including Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Mexico, and the United States. The lessons drawn from these countries will prepare you to analyze other countries of your own choosing in the paper assignments. At the end of the course, you should be able to analyze political events around the world, drawing on the theoretical explanations provided in the class.
Subjects
Democracy
political institutions
economic development
political conflict
ethnic conflict
India
Weimar Germany
market-oriented reform
Brazil
corruption
Mexico
ethnic violence
Yugoslavia
post-Communist Russia
China
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Political Science
Terms of Use
Persistent DSpace Link
