Bachelor
2022/2023
Introduction to Political Science
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Compulsory course (HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia)
Area of studies:
Foreign Regional Studies
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
1 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
4
Contact hours:
60
Course Syllabus
Abstract
This is an obligatory course for the HSE dual degree program. 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. 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
- The primary goal is to teach students how to think about politics conceptually using existing theories and concepts of political science. The course also will help students to improve critical and conscious thinking about a variety of domestic and international political processes.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- - Apply existing theoretical and conceptual frameworks in political studies analysis;
- - Choose a research strategy to conduct an academic study in political science;
- - Convert empirical case studies of domestic and international political phenomena into manageable research questions and illustrate possible answers;
- - Critically analyze domestic and international phenomenon;
- - Learn key terms and concepts used in political study research;
Course Contents
- Week 1. Introduction and Syllabus
- Week 2. What is Political Science?
- Week 3. Ideologies
- Week 4. States
- Week 5. Regimes
- Week 6. Political culture
- Week 7. Institutions and bureaucracies
- Week 8. Mid-term exam
- Week 9. International relations
- Week 10. Power in Politics workshop I: Movie screening
- Week 11. Power in Politics workshop II: Discussion
- Week 12. Political Economy
- Week 13. Violence and revolutions
- Week 14. Political Communication
- Week 15. Globalism and regionalism
- Final exam
Assessment Elements
- Weekly response papers (25%)students should read all required materials before the class and submit a short reflection (150-250 words, not including references) that will include the most important/curious/debatable argument(s) from the assigned reading in the first part and critical reflection/comments on the reading material in the second part. Personal comments can be supported either by personal/professional experience knowledge/expertise and/or by other materials (newspaper, academic articles, data, etc). The person who does a presentation is required to read materials but does not need to submit a weekly response paper on the presentation day. Five WRPs are expected from each of the students.
- Participation in the discussion (15%)
- Individual Presentation (15%)
- Group Presentation (20%)
- Final exam (25%)
Interim Assessment
- 2022/2023 2nd module0.15 * Individual Presentation (15%) + 0.15 * Participation in the discussion (15%) + 0.2 * Group Presentation (20%) + 0.25 * Weekly response papers (25%) + 0.25 * Final exam (25%)
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- 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
- Axel Dreher. (2005). Does Globalization Affect Growth? Evidence from a new Index of Globalization. TWI Research Paper Series.
- Barnett, M. N., & Duvall, R. (2005). Power in Global Governance. Cambridge University Press.
- 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.
- 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
- Roskin, M. G. (2014). Political Science: An Introduction, Global Edition (Vol. Thirteenth edition). New York: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1419818
- Steger, M. B. (2005). Ideologies of globalization. Journal of Political Ideologies, 10(1), 11–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/1356931052000310263
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- 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
- Olsen, J. P. (2006). Maybe It Is Time to Rediscover Bureaucracy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mui027
- Stuart-Fox, M. (DE-588)170187543, (DE-627)06023797X, (DE-576)163231745, aut. (2013). Power and political culture in Cambodia Trude Jacobsen; Martin Stuart-Fox.