1. POLS 2950D: Intro to Winter Term Jan. 5

2. Required Text Book Kesselman, Mark; Joel Krieger and William A. Joseph. 2009. Introduction to Comparative Politics. Brief Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Available in York bookstore.

3. Additional Required Readings We will be reading two chapters from the Fall term textbook. Additional required readings come from academic journals. These journals are available via the library catalogue. Note: search via the journal title under e-resources, e.g. Latin American Research Review, NACLA Report on the Americas, Review of African Political Economy The Journal of Asian Studies, etc. http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/Home/eResources/ http://www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/Home/eResources/

4. Winter Term Syllabus Posted on the course website: http://www.yorku.ca/mcooke/pols2950d/syllabus.htm

5. Assignments The Winter Term Essay assignment is 12-15 pages and is due April 5. Note: According to the Registrar’s office this is the last date to submit work for the term. Essays will not be accepted after this date. Essays can be handed in before that date. http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/importantdates/fw09.htm http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/importantdates/fw09.htm The final exam will be held during the formal exam period: April 7-23.

6. Kesselman et al., Introduction to Comparative Politics. We are looking at the following countries this term: Britain, France, Russia, Mexico, South Africa, India and China. (we are skipping the chapter on Iran).

7. Kesselman et al., Introduction to Comparative Politics. Kesselman et al., categorize these countries as: Consolidated democracies: Britain, France, India. Transitional democracies: Mexico and Russia. Authoritarian regimes: China (and Iran).

8. Kesselman et al., Introduction to Comparative Politics. Kesselman et al., focus on these themes throughout the text, in looking at each case study: A World of States (The Making of the Modern State) Governing the Economy (Political Economy and Development) The Democratic Idea (Governance and Policy-Making) The Politics of Collective Identity (Representation and Participation)

9. Additional Required Readings Generally, the additional required readings go into greater detail on a particular theme, particularly “Political Economy and Development” or “The Democratic Idea.” A common thread throughout the readings is the connection between political economy (economic factors, economic development) and democracy.