A.P. Comparative Politics

Fall 2008

Lou Sartor

Textbook: Comparative Politics, 5th Edition, Charles Hauss

Recommended Supplementary Texts: A.P. Comparative Politics: A Study Guide and The A.P. Comparative Politics Examination: What You Need to Know

AP Government Booklet.pdf (pp 29-46)

A.P. Comparative Politics & Government@AP Central

Wikipedia: AP Comparative Politics

Academic Project Fair Information

Snapgrades.net


INTRODUCTION

Lou Sartor web site

AP Comparative Politics Syllabus and Course Outline

Discussion Articles: "We (Teenagers) Don't Believe in Politics"; "Why They Hate Us", "America's 100 Years of Overthrow", "They Can Only Go Far (World's Bullies)"

Powerpoint: Chapter One

Chapter One: Introduction: Q&A, Miscellaneous Terms and Key Terms

Key Concepts: Issues in Comparative Politics, Comparing Political Systems, Political Culture, Interest Articulation, Interest Aggregation, Policymaking, and Public Policy

Handout: Comparative Government and Politics Vocabulary

Powerpoint: Chapter Three and my AP US Government Page

Chapter Three: USA: Q&A and Key Terms

CSPAN Video/mp3: Stephen Kinzer discusses his book Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Audioclips: Naomi Wolf Warns of Threat to American Constitutional Government (May 2008); Michael Klare discusses his book "Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet" (July 2008)

Links: BBC Profile of the United States of America, NYT articles re: USA, Factbook on USA, AP US Government Page


UNIT ONE

Discussion Articles: "Economy at 60-year low, says Darling;" Prime Ministers Since WW2, Tories Saw Little Hope in 2003, David Cameron and the Tories, Labour Facing Defeat

Chapter Two: Industrial Democracies: Q&A and Key Terms

Chapter Four: Great Britain: Q&A and Key Terms

Powerpoints: Chapter Two and Chapter Four

Summary Notes: Great Britain; Historical Turning Points; Political Turning Points; and Key Terms relating to the European Union

Briefing Paper: The 2005 Elections

PBS Video: The Blair Decade

Handout: Comparing Parliament with the US Congress

Audioclips: Tony Blair's Legacy as PM (May 2007); Labour Party's Losses in May 2008 Elections

Links: BBC Profile of United Kingdom, NYT articles re: United Kingdom, Washington Post Profile re: Great Britain, Factbook on United Kingdom. UK Government, Parliament Home Page, 10 Downing Street, British Politics Page, British Politics Group, Wikipedia re: United Kingdom; Economist Country Briefing: Britain; English Bill of Rights; Labour Party; Conservative Party; Liberal Democratic Party


UNIT TWO

Discussion Articles: "A Cold War Redux is Seen on the Horizon;" "Wrong on Russia;" "Weakness in the Midst of Russia's Strength;" "Russians Confident That Nation is Back;" Medvedev Sweeps Presidential Election; Putin Vows to Fight Economic Collapse in Russia

Chapter Eight: Communist Regimes: Q&A and Key Terms

Chapter Nine: Russia: Q&A, pt 1, Q&A pt 2, Q&A pt 3 and Key Terms

Summary Notes: Russia; Historical Turning Points; Modern Timeline; Biographical Profiles and Political Turning Points

Powerpoints: Chapter Eight and Chapter Nine

Briefing Papers: Illiberal Democracy & Putin's Russia and Russian Elections & Managed Democracy

Video: Rough Guide to Russia;

Video/mp3pt1 // mp3pt2: Stephen Colton discusses his book Yeltsin: A Life

Handout: Marxism: True or False

Audioclips: Boris Yeltsin's Legacy (April 2007); Anatol Lieven interview (June 2007); Lilia Shevtsova Q&A about Yeltsin and Putin Legacy (Nov 2007); Peter Lavelle discussing Russian politics (Dec 2007); Marshall Goldman discusses his book "Petrostate: Putin, Power and the New Russia" (June 2008); PBS NewsHour discussion of Russia-Georgia conflict (Aug 2008); Eric Margolis discussing Russia-Georgia conflict (Aug2008)

Links: BBC Profile of Russia, NYT articles re: Russia, Washington Post Profile re: Russia, Factbook on Russia, Wikipedia re: Russia; Economist Country Briefing: Russia


UNIT THREE

Discussion Articles: "A Long Wait at the Gate to Greatness;" "China's Neoliberal Dynasty;" "Succession a Top Issue at China Congress;" "Three Chinese Leaders Step Down," "U.S. Could Learn Much From the Chinese Educational System" "As China's Losses Mount, Confidence Turns to Fear: Officials Use Bailouts to Forestall Unrest"; "Factories Shut, China's Workers are Suffering"

Briefing Paper: Party Congresses in China

Powerpoint: Chapter Ten

Video: Booknotes Interview of

Discovery Channel Video: "The People's Republic of Capitalism, pt 4"

Chapter Ten: China: Q&A pt 1, Q&A pt 2, Q&A pt 3 , Modern China Summary, and Key Terms

Summary Notes: China; Historical Turning Points; Political Turning Points; Key Definitions; Leadership Timeline and Leadership Profiles

Audioclips: Philip Short discusses his book Mao: A Life (March 2000); James Kynge discusses his book "China Shakes the World"(October 2006); Evan Osnos discusses his experience as a journalist in China (June 2007); Eric Margolis discusses China's relationship with Tibet (March 2008); Naomi Klein discusses China's emerging police state (July 2008); Minky Worden discusses human rights and the Olympic Games in China (July 2008)

Links: BBC Profile of China, NYT articles re: China, Washington Post Profile re: China, Factbook on China, Wikipedia re: China; Economist Country Briefing: China


UNIT FOUR

Discussion Articles: "Iran's Clerical Old Guard Being Pushed Aside," "Survey Says Iranians Favor Free Election of Their Top Leader;" "Oil Cash May Prove a Shaky Crutch for Iran's Ahmadinejad"; "Minister's Dismissal Is Setback for Iranian Leader"

Chapter Thirteen: Iran: Q&A; Modern Timeline; Distribution of Powers in Government, and Key Terms

Summary Notes: Iran, Elements of Iran's Government, Political Turning Points, and The Islamic Regime

Powerpoint: Chapter Thirteen

Links: BBC Profile of Iran, NYT articles re: Iran, Washington Post Profile re: Iran, Factbook on Iran, Wikipedia re: Iran; Economist Country Briefing: Iran; Who Runs Iran

Audioclips: Hamid Dabashi discussing Iranian Politics (April 2007); Ervand Abrahamian interview (Sept 2007); Reese Erlich discusses his book "The Iran Agenda: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis;" Conservatives Win in Parliamentary Elections (May 2008); Karim Sadjadpour discusses his book "Reading Khamenei (July 2008); Robert Baer discusses Iran's influence in the Persian Gulf (Sept 2008)

Booknotes Interview: Robin Wright's "In the Name of God: The Khomeini Decade"

Discovery Channel Video: Ted Koppel's "Iran: The Most Dangerous Nation"

Video/mp3: CSPAN's After Words with Barbara Slavin discusses her book "Bitter Friends, Bosum Enemies: Iran, the U.S., and the Twisted Path to Confrontation"


UNIT FIVE

Discussion Articles: Mexico's Democracy Under Threat; Mexico's Calderon Earns Good Marks; Past Wrongs, Future Rights

Chapter Sixteen: Mexico: Q&A, Structure of the Government, and Key Terms

Summary Notes: Mexico, Turning Points, and Key Events

Powerpoints: Chapter 16 and Mexico

Video/mp3: PBS News Hour clip re: Mexican Presidential Inauguration December 1, 2006

Links: BBC Profile of Mexico, NYT articles re: Mexico, Washington Post Profile re: Mexico, Factbook on Mexico. Wikipedia re: Mexico; Economist Country Briefing: Mexico

Audioclips: Mexican Presidential Election is Contested (Dec 2006); Former president Vicente Fox discusses his book "Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President" (Oct 2007); Kevin Gallagher discusses Mexican politics and its economy (Nov 2007)

Video/mp3: C-SPAN interview of Arturo Valenzuela discussing the Inauguration of President Felipe Calderon

Take Home Quiz: Chapter 16


UNIT SIX

Discussion Articles: Report Traces Twisting Routes to Power in Nigeria:

Chapter Sixteen: Nigeria: Q&A and Key Terms

Summary Notes: Nigeria

Links: BBC Profile of Nigeria, NYT articles re: Nigeria, Washington Post Profile re: Nigeria, Factbook on Nigeria. Wikipedia re: Nigeria; Economist Country Briefing: Nigeria

Audioclip: Conflict in the oil rich Niger Delta (May 2008)