Categories of Political Science

2024/2025

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

6

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент политологии и международных отношений

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Преподаватель

Кабанов Юрий Андреевич

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The Categories of Political Science is an introductory course, aimed at providing students with basic knowledge on politics as the sphere of social activity and as an academic discipline. It aims at discussing the evolution of Political Science; the key political concepts, theories, institutions and processes are discussed in the global comparative perspective.

Learning Objectives

• To give students a comprehensive overview of the basic scientific approaches to Political Science, its main theories and concepts
• To develop the basic skills of describing and interpreting political and social processes in terms of Political Science concepts and theories

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Identifies and defines the basic concepts of Politics
• Enumerates and describes the main stages in the development of Political Science
• Applies the basic concepts and assumptions of Political Science to describe political phenomena

Course Contents

• The Science of Politics
• The Origins of Political Science. Behavioral Revolution.
• The System Approach and the Rational Choice Theory
• New Institutionalism
• State and Political Power
• Political Regimes: Democracies
• Political Regimes: Non-Democracies
• Institutional Designs of Democracies
• Division of Power and Systems of Government
• Unitary and Federal Systems
• Interest Groups and Political Parties
• Elections and Electoral Systems
• The Media and Public Opinion
• Public Participation and Electoral Behavior
• Public Policy and Governance

Assessment Elements

• Worksheets
  During the seminars, students are given worksheets, devoted to the topic of the seminar. Students are supposed to fill щге these worksheets and hand them in at the end of the seminar.
• Quiz
  Each seminar (except seminars 1, 14, 15) students are to do the quiz on the topic of the current seminar. The quizzes consist of 9 multiple choice questions and 1 open questions, which requires a short answer (1 point for each question, 10 points maximum). The quizzes are based on the relevant lecture and the material, recommended for the seminar. Students have 10 minutes to complete the quiz. The rounded average of all grades is the final grade for this element of assessment (including zeros if a student has missed the quizzes without valid reasons).
• In-Class Essay
  The assignment is conducted during Seminar 14 and lasts for 80 minutes. The assignment consists of two parts. During the first part, a student is given a text (an excerpt from an academic or journalistic article) and two questions. The questions can require: (1) to interpret the events and processes described in the text through the lens of theoretical approaches and concepts covered in the course; (2) to define the notions mentioned in the text and illustrate them with examples; to attribute the text to a theoretical tradition/theory and discuss further implications of this theory. The answers require 5-6 sentences each. The assignment is to be completed within about 30 minutes. The second part of the assignment is the essay (250-300 words), which is a short reflection of a given statement, resembling the “Agree or Disagree” type of essays. The assignment is to be completed within about 50 minutes. The assignment can be paper-based or conducted in a computer class via SmartLMS. The structure of the essay is the folllowing: (1) Introduction: The statement and the thesis statement. What is the statement, and to what extent do you agree or disagree with it? (2) Main Part: Provide two detailed arguments (reasons), why you agree or disagree with the statement. The arguments should be based on the literature (materials, concepts) that you’ve read during the course or other academic articles. Conclusion: Summarize your arguments. During the assignment students may use (1) worksheets prepared during the seminars and (2) paper-based or online dictionary (not translator).
• Final Test
  The final test consists of two parts: Part A with 10 multiple choice questions (1 point per each question, 10 points maximum) and Part B with 10 questions of other types (fill-in the gaps, matching etc.), with 10 points maximum (20 points in total). The test is conducted at Seminar 15 and lasts for 80 minutes. The test may be paper-based or conducted in a computer class via SmartLMS.
• Exam
  The exam is conducted during the session in a written form. Each student is given a card with two questions to be answered within 60 minutes. Students may be exempted from the exam, based on the decision of the lecturer.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 2nd module
  0.25 * Exam + 0.25 * Final Test + 0.25 * In-Class Essay + 0.15 * Quiz + 0.1 * Worksheets

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Dahl, R. A. (1961). The Behavioral Approach in Political Science: Epitaph for a Monument to a Successful Protest. American Political Science Review, (04), 763. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.apsrev.v55y1961i04p763.772.12
• Dietram A. Scheufele, & David Tewksbury. (n.d.). ORIGINAL ARTICLE Framing, Agenda Setting, and Priming: The Evolution of Three Media Effects Models. Http://Www.Facoltaspes.Unimi.It/Files/_ITA_/COM/3-Framing-AgendaSetting.Pdf.
• Easton, D. (1969). The New Revolution in Political Science. American Political Science Review, (04), 1051. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.apsrev.v63y1969i04p1051.1061.26
• Gerschewski, J. (2019). The three pillars of stability: legitimation, repression, and co-optation in autocratic regimes. Democratization ; 20 ; 1 ; 13-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2013.738860
• Hall, P., & Taylor, R. (1996). Political Science and the Three New Institutionalisms. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.45428ED0
• Lijphart, A. (2012). Patterns of Democracy (Vol. 2nd ed). New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=474918
• Mann, M. (2017). El poder autónomo del Estado: Sus orígenes, mecanismos y resultados ; The autonomous power of the state: Its origins, mechanisms, and results.
• Political science an introduction, Roskin, M. G., 2012
• Robert A. Dahl, Ian Shapiro, & José Antonio Cheibub. (2003). The Democracy Sourcebook. The MIT Press.
• Weible, C. M., & Sabatier, P. A. (2017). Theories of the Policy Process (Vol. Fourth edition). Boulder, CO: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1451128

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Lijphart, A. (2012). Patterns of Democracy: Vol. 2nd ed. Yale University Press.

Authors

• KABANOV Iurii ANDREEVICH