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Comparative Government and Politics

Overview

  • Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
  • Convenor: Dr Dale Mineshima-Lowe
  • Assessment: two 1000-word journals (20% each), three-hour written exam (60%)

Module description

Comparative politics is a vast field within political science that seeks to explain why countries differ in their political institutions, in the behaviour of their leaders and citizens, and in their levels of economic development and public policies. This foundational module gives you the analytical tools and conceptual frameworks to understand how politics works across different cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

We focus on two central inquires. First, why are some countries richer than others, why are some democracies and others dictatorships, and what does this mean for the welfare of citizens? Second, how do political institutions vary within and across regime types, and why do these differences matter? Through lectures and seminars, we examine cases from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, including democracies and authoritarian regimes, wealthy and developing countries, and unitary and federal systems. You will learn how political scientists define, measure and compare political phenomena, and how to use cross-national evidence to assess competing explanations.

The module is your gateway to upper-level modules in politics and international relations. It also builds skills that matter beyond the classroom. You will learn to compare cases systematically, to evaluate causal arguments and the evidence behind them, to find and interpret cross-national data, to read academic literature critically, and to present a clear, well-evidenced argument in writing and in discussion. In an interconnected world, where developments in one country often have consequences far beyond its borders, these skills are valuable for further study and for any career that demands rigorous political analysis.

Indicative syllabus

  • Introduction to comparative politics: Why and how we compare: States, nations and governments; cases, concepts and variables; theory, evidence and causation
  • Political economy of development: Geography, natural resources and the environment; the state, bureaucracy, political corruption and conflict; democracy, development and regime change
  • Comparing institutions: Constitutions and competing visions of democracy; executive structures; political parties and electoral systems; central-local relations; legislatures and judiciaries; democracy, culture and plural societies; comparative authoritarianism and democratic backsliding

Learning objectives

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

  • understand the logic of the comparative method, including cases, variables and causation, and use the method to explain differences within and across countries
  • outline the main explanations of key differences in political and socioeconomic development
  • describe and compare the main political institutions and regime types across a range of countries, and explain why institutional design matters for policymaking and political outcomes
  • engage critically with academic literature and debates in comparative politics and present a clear comparative argument in writing