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Academic Year 2001/2002
Seminar on Democratization
GOVT 308 SP
This seminar is designed to examine the concepts and approaches currently used by scholars of comparative politics, and to apply these to the transition to democracy that is taking place in many parts of the world.
Through readings and discussion, this
seminar will help students understand why politicians create, sustain, and at times even destroy democratic institutions. It will draw upon nineteenth and twentieth century developments in selected countries from Africa,
Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
MAJOR READINGS
Major readings will include: Robert H. Bates, PROSPERITY AND VIOLENCE: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT (New York: W.W. Norton, 2001); John Markoff, WAVES OF DEMOCRACY: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND POLITICAL CHANGE (Thousand
Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 1996);
Adam Przeworski, Michael E. Alvarez, and Fernando Limongi, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND WELL-BEING IN THE WORLD, 1950-1990 (New York: Cambridge University Press); Joel L. Silbey, THE AMERICAN
POLITICAL NATION, 1838-1893 (Stanford:
Stanford University Press, 2000) and Allister Sparks, TOMORROW IS ANOTHER COUNTRY: THE INSIDE STORY OF SOUTH AFRICA'S ROAD TO CHANGE (New York: Hill and Wang, 1995). The course will also include other texts on key topics
of democratization.
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments will consist of 4-6 papers (3-6 pages each) critically analyzing course texts.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
Students must obtain permission of instructor to enroll in this class. They should be juniors or seniors. Students should also have taken at least several introductory and upper-level courses in the Social Sciences to
be able to profit from and
contribute to class discussions.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed
Drop/Add form to the Registrar's
Office.
COURSE FORMAT:
Seminar
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level:
UGRD
Credit:
1
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS GOVT
Grading Mode:
Graded
Prerequisites:
GOVT157 OR GOVT155
Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-19-2002
Contact
wesmaps@wesleyan.edu
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459