Social Science 171

Introduction to Political Science

 

 

 

 

 

Fall, 2009                                                                                                                         James Przybylski

 

            This course is a broad survey of the field of political science.  Some of the topics we will study include the nature of politics and political power, the institutions of government and how they make decisions, enforce rules, and decide conflicts about policies, the nature of public opinion and political participation, major political ideologies and some of the great philosophers of politics, and politics in the international realm.  While the stress of the course will be on American politics, a comparative approach will often be used to compare American practices with those in other nations.

 

As a course which may be used to fulfill the social scientific mode of inquiry for the LSP, the introduction to political science aims to ensure that students (1) are exposed to the major investigative methods, approaches, and theories of political science; (2) attain familiarity with the major generalizations, discoveries, principles, and concepts of political science; (3) understand citizenship and leadership in its broadest meaning for communities, societies, and the global system; and (4) develop skills such as critical thinking and analysis, which are essential preparation for success at higher levels of inquiry in the social sciences. 

 

Since POL 171 may also be used to fulfill the intercultural mode of inquiry for the LSP, the course aims to enhance students’ appreciation of diversity by (1) teaching students about the political systems of other societies and introducing students to new ways to understand the relationship between people and government; (2) encouraging a critical understanding of the student's own political system in comparative perspective, and by encouraging students to attain a positive appreciation for the political systems of other societies and the cultural roots of such political systems; and (3) encouraging tolerance and positive appreciation for the diversity of political systems by enhancing students’ awareness of the social and cultural contexts within which political systems emerge and function.

 

            The required texts for the class are as follows: Power and Choice, 11th Edition, by W. Phillips Shively; Political Ideologies, 10th Edition, by Leon Baradat, and The Elections of 2008, edited by Michael Nelson.  In order to keep abreast of current issues and events, the student is also encouraged to read politically relevant stories on the Internet and to pick up newspapers that are part of the campus readership program.  If one subscribes to Newsweek, Time or U.S. News, for example, these might also be sources of current events.

 

            During the course of the semester, there will be three (3) 100-point semester exams plus a final 100-point examination.  The student should also keep a weekly journal, with one to two 250-word entries per week.  These entries should discuss current political events being sure to relate these events to concepts that he or she has learned about politics from the required class readings.  With each entry, the student should include a citation from the article read (including a photocopy of the first page of the article or a printed copy of the first page of the article if it’s from the Internet).  Also, the student should cite pages from the text(s) when referring to relevant concepts.  These journal entries (eventually numbering 15) will be collected and evaluated from time to time.  These journal entries will be worth a total of 75 points. In addition, there will be periodic ten point assignments or quizzes that will test the student's knowledge of recent readings or to try to encourage the student to fulfill the modes of inquiry in some relevant way.

 

“The university is committed to making every possible effort to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Disability Services office (x4478) as soon as possible.”

 

Dr. Przybylski's Office is MC223; his phone number is 785-4657; his e-mail address is jprz@truman.edu. His website is at www2.truman.edu/jprz/przybyls.html

 

 

 

Reading Assignments:

I.  Politics and Political Science

 

Aug. 31                       Shively, Ch. 1, "Politics: Setting the Stage"

Begin reading Nelson, ed., Readings 1-3

 

II.  The State and Public Policy

 

Sept. 2                         Shively, Ch. 3, "The Modern State" (Begin)

 

Sept. 4                         Shively, Ch. 3, "The Modern State" (Conclude)

 

Sept. 7                         Labor Day

                                   

Sept. 9                         Shively, Ch. 5, "Economic Policy of the State"

                                   

Sept. 11                       Shively, Ch. 6, “What Lies Behind Policy: Questions of Justice & Effectiveness”

 

Sept. 14                       Shively, Ch. 9, “Constitutions and the Design of Government”

 

Sept. 16                       Discussion of Nelson, ed., Readings 1-3

 

Sept. 18                       Review

 

Sept. 21                       Semester Exam #1

 

 

III.  The Citizen and the Government

 

Sept. 23                       Shively, Ch. 7, "Democracy and Autocracy"

                                    Begin reading Nelson, ed., Readings 4-6

 

Sept. 25                       Shively, Ch. 8, "How Individuals Relate to the State and the State to the Individual"

 

 

IV.  Political Philosophy and Political Ideologies

 

Sept. 28                       Baradat, Ch. 1, "Ideology"

                                    Handout on Ancient and Medieval Period

 

Sept. 30                       First six journal entries due

                        Baradat, Ch. 2, "The Spectrum of Political Attitudes"

 

Oct. 2                          Baradat, Ch. 4, "The Evolution of Democratic Theory"

 

Oct. 5                          Baradat, Ch. 5, "Liberal Democracy, Capitalism, and Beyond"

 

Oct. 7                          Discussion of Nelson, ed., Readings 4-6

 

Oct. 9                          Review

 

Oct. 12                        Semester Exam #2

 

Oct. 14-19                   Baradat, Ch. 8, "Socialist Theory"

                                    Begin reading Nelson, ed., Readings 7-9

 

Oct. 15-16                   Midterm Break

 

Oct. 21                        Baradat, Ch. 9, "Applied Socialism" (Begin)

 

Oct. 23                        Baradat, Ch. 9, "Applied Socialism" (Conclude)

Second six journal entries due        

 

Oct. 26-28                   Baradat, Ch. 10, "Fascism and National Socialism"

 

V.  The Apparatus of Governance

 

Oct. 30                        Shively, Ch. 10, "Elections"

 

Nov. 2-4                      Shively, Ch. 11, "Parties: A Linking & Leading Mechanism in Politics”

    

Nov. 6                         Shively, Ch. 12, "Structured Conflict: Interest Groups & Politics”

 

Nov. 9                         Discussion of Nelson, ed., Readings 7-9

 

Nov. 11                       Review

 

Nov. 13                       Semester Exam #3

 

Nov. 16-18                  Shively, Ch. 14, " Nat’l Decision-Making Institutions: Parliamentary Government"

 

Nov. 20                       Shively, Ch. 15, "Nat’l Decision-Making Institutions: Presidential Government"

 

Nov. 23-27                  Thanksgiving Break

 

Nov. 30-Dec. 2           Shively, Ch. 17, "Law and the Courts”

 

VI.  The International Order

 

Dec. 4                          Begin Shively, Ch. 18, “Global Politics: Politics among States”

Last three journal entries due

 

Dec. 7-9                      Conclude Shively, Ch. 18, "Global Politics"

    

Dec. 11                        Review for Final Exam

 

 

December 14 (Monday)        Section T58 (Meets 11:30 MWF)                 FINAL EXAM:  11:30-1:20

 

December 17 (Thursday)      Section 01 (Meets 10:30 MWF)                    FINAL EXAM:  9:30-11:20