Delivered at:: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Course type:: Compulsory course

When:: 1 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Varpahovskis, Eriks

Гасанов Камран Низами оглы

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Abstract

This is an obligatory course for the HSE x Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme. This course is an introduction to political science. In this course, key concepts in political science, subfields of political science, the historical development of key ideas in political science, and research methods in political science will be discussed. An important component of this course is that key concepts and paradigms in political science will be explored through actual case studies, predominantly in Asian context. From a theoretical perspective, questions such as the following will be addressed and discussed: What is political science? What is power in political relations? What are and how do political ideologies work? What are the state and the nation? What kinds of political systems are there? What is the relationship between Political Science and International Relations? What is political culture and public opinion and what is their relevance in making domestic and foreign policy decisions? What is the role of the bureaucracy in the functioning of the state? What is mass political communication? What is global governance? What is political economy? This course aims to equip the student with basic political systems analysis skills, so the course will deal with multiple, practical cases to analyze them through the concepts that are being explored. Moreover, the course aims to stimulate critical thinking about political science concepts and their applicability in different contexts (both Western and Asian).

Learning Objectives

to teach students how to think about politics conceptually using existing theories and concepts of political science.
to equip and improve students’ analytical skills that would allow critical and conscious thinking about a variety of domestic and international political processes.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, a student is expected to acquire or improve certain knowledge and skills, such as: Knowledge of key terms and concepts used in political science research;
Skills in application of existing theoretical and conceptual frameworks in political studies analysis;
Critically analysis of domestic and international political phenomena (e.g. local, regional, international political trends and processes;
Capacity and skills in choosing a research strategy to conduct an academic study in political science;
Ability to convert empirical case studies of domestic and international political phenomena into manageable research questions and illustrate possible answers;
Skills necessary for searching, synthesizing and analyzing publicly available information;
Convey ideas and interact on political science-related topics with team-mates, in conversation with professor and unprepared and specialized audience;
Build intolerant attitude towards corruption;
Master oral and presentation skills in foreign languages;
Able to deliver well-argued opinion on political matters in Asia (including relations with Russia);
To master time-management, drafting, writing, citing, presentation and communication skills.

Course Contents

Introduction
What is Political Science?
Ideologies
States
Regimes
Political culture
Institutions and bureaucracies
Session week
International relations
Power in Politics workshop I: Movie screening
Power in Politics workshop II: Discussion
Political Economy
Violence and revolutions
Political Communication
Globalism, globalization, de-globalization and regionalization
Wrap-up week and Final exam

Assessment Elements

Individual presentation
Individual presentation - 20% (1 presentation)
Weekly response papers (WRPs): mini-essays
Weekly response papers (WRP) (5 maximum) - 30% (maximum 6% per each WRP). Students can submit only 5 WRPs.
Participation in the discussion
Participation in the discussion during the class - 15% (1.25% per class, total 12 discussion weeks)
Group presentation - final exam
Attendance
Attendance is not graded. However, uncertified absence can lead to deduction of the grade or even disqualification. Following HSE rules: Two absences are excused per term. In case of the student’s absence for a valid reason, the student must provide a valid Certificate of Illness/Medical Note to the Students’ Office in the span of 1 (one) working day since the end of their sick leave, else their absence will be graded as 0 (zero). Each additional absence beyond the allowed number will lower the final grade for the course by 5 points for each absence without compromise (e.g. by the end of the course student collected 85 points, but missed three classes without a valid reason, then 5 points are deducted from the final sum: 85 - 5 = 80.

Interim Assessment

2024/2025 2nd module
0,3*WRP +0,15*Participation + 0,2*Individual Presentation + 0,35*Final Exam. The course employs a cumulative grading approach. The student's final grade will be composed of four components: Weekly response papers (WRP) (5 maximum) - 30% (maximum 6% per each WRP). Students can submit only 5 WRPs. Participation in the discussion during the class - 15% (1.25% per class, total 12 discussion weeks); Individual presentation - 20% (1 presentation); Group presentation (final exam) -35% (1 presentation). Final Grade: 96-100% (Course Grade) - 10 (HSE Grade); 90-95% - 9; 81-89% - 8; 70-80% - 7; 60-69% - 6; 55-59% - 5; 50-54% - 4; 0-49% - 0-3.

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

9781292156286 - Michael G. Roskin; Robert L. Cord; James A. Medeiros; Walter S. Jones - Political Science: An Introduction, Global Edition - 2014 - Pearson - https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1419818 - nlebk - 1419818
Adam Przeworski, & Fernando Limongi. (1993). Political Regimes and Economic Growth. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 3, 51. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.7.3.51
Barnett, M. N., & Duvall, R. (2005). Power in Global Governance. Cambridge University Press.
Burchill, S., Linklater, A., & Devetak, R. (2013). Theories of International Relations (Vol. 5th ed). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1526050
Guzzini, S. (1993). Structural power: the limits of neorealist power analysis. International Organization, 3, 443.
Hart, J. (1976). Three approaches to the measurement of power in international relations. International Organization, 2, 289.
Kadir Jun Ayhan. (2020). An Exploration of Korean Discourses on Public Diplomacy. Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, 19(1), 31–42. https://doi.org/10.17477/jcea.2020.19.1.031
Khusrav Gaibulloev, & Todd Sandler. (2009). The Impact Of Terrorism And Conflicts On Growth In Asia. Economics and Politics, 3, 359. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0343.2009.00347.x
Steger, M. B. (2005). Ideologies of globalization. Journal of Political Ideologies, 10(1), 11–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/1356931052000310263

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Olsen, J. P. (2006). Maybe It Is Time to Rediscover Bureaucracy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mui027

Authors

Базарова Евгения Сергеевна
Varpakhovskis ERIKS

Bachelor’s Programme 'HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia'

Introduction to Political Science