POL 1054 is also offered in Fall 2024
POL 1054 is also offered in Spring 2024
POL 1054 is also offered in Fall 2023
POL 1054 is also offered in Spring 2023
POL 1054 is also offered in Fall 2022
POL 1054 is also offered in Spring 2022
POL 1054 is also offered in Fall 2021
Spring 2020 | POL 1054 Section 001: Puzzles in World Politics (53868)
- Instructor(s)
- Class Component:
- Lecture
- Credits:
- 3 Credits
- Grading Basis:
- Student Option
- Instructor Consent:
- No Special Consent Required
- Instruction Mode:
- In Person Term Based
- Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
Freshman Full Year Registration
- Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
Tue,
Thu 09:45AM - 11:00AM
UMTC, West Bank
West Bank Skyway AUDITORIUM
- Enrollment Status:
Open (34 of 83 seats filled)
- Also Offered:
- Course Catalog Description:
- This course is an introduction to the study of politics in different countries around the world. It focuses on domestic politics within countries, as opposed to a course in international relations, which focuses on relations between countries. Some of the questions we tackle include: Why are some countries prone to violent conflict while others remain peaceful? Why do some countries grow rich while others remain poor? Why does democracy emerge in some countries, while dictators hold onto power elsewhere? How do attitudes about gender and sexuality influence politics? Do particular religions, or the strength of religious faith, strengthen or weaken democracy? The readings and assignments help you make sense of the complexity of world politics - to sift through and distill the avalanche of information available and learn how to develop your own arguments about pertinent global issues. Upon completion of this course you will be able to understand and provide examples of 1) the difference between strong and weak states; 2) the distinctions between democratic and non-democratic forms of government; 3) the various ways democracies are governed; 4) arguments explaining the origin of democracy and the persistence of non-democracy; 5) the significance of different forms of political identity such as ethnicity, religion, and gender; 6) why some countries are rich while others remain poor; and 7) why some countries tax and spend more than others. Assignments seek to develop your skills at developing arguments through logic and evidence and to give you the ability to distinguish between a persuasive argument about politics and simply stating an opinion.
- Class Notes:
- http://classinfo.umn.edu/?POL1054+Spring2020
- Class Description:
This course is an introduction to the study of politics in different countries around the world. We will focus on some important questions in contemporary comparative politics, such as: Why are some countries democratic and other authoritarian? How democracies organize their political institutions and what are their effects? What does the comparative approach teach us about race/ethnicity and gender? How to explain the emergence of protest and other forms of collective action, such as social revolutions?
- Who Should Take This Class?:
- No prior knowledge is assume, class is open to anyone, including non-majors.
- Exam Format:
3 Quizzes - 54% of final grade
2 Short Essays (1-2 pages) - 36% of final grade
Attendance grade - 10% of final grade
- Class Format:
- Lectures and discussion.
- Workload:
- Average of 100 pages of reading per week.
- Textbooks:
- https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/53868/1203
- Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
- 31 December 2019
ClassInfo Links - Spring 2020 Political Science Classes