UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RICO (RIO PIEDRAS)
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS SOCIALES
DEPARTAMENTO DE CIENCIA POLÍTICA
CIPO 3006: Introducción a la Política Comparada
Segundo Semestre, Año 2015-2016 (Sílabo)
Instructor: Dr. Antonio Castanha
Meeting Times: 19 de Enero – 10 de Mayo, MJ 2:30-3:50pm
Office Hours: TBA, or email me to make an appointment: [email protected]
DESCRIPTION
This course provides an introduction to comparative politics by examining basic principles,
concepts, theories and methodologies surrounding the study. Students will gain a firm
understanding of the historical development of this subfield of political science as well as its
important themes and contemporary issues and debates taking place. Some themes explored include
analyses of political economy, the state, political culture and organizations, identity politics, the
paradigm of development and dependency theory. The latter points will probe the political, cultural
and economic reasons for the sharp disparity in global resource distribution and wealth that
particularly affect “third world” and indigenous peoples. Students are encouraged to write
comparatively on these themes and/or in terms of nation to nation relations.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
1) Understand the meaning of the political science subfield of comparative politics.
2) Know the relationship between political institutions and processes in regard to social and
economic changes between countries.
3) Analyze theories and perspectives that have enhanced comparative politics.
4) Understand the different facets of government and complexities of political parties and systems.
5) Realize the function of the paradigm of development in relation to globalization policies and
its effects especially on indigenous peoples and peoples of the global south.
6) Analyze and think critically in regard to functions and processes of comparative politics.
7) Apply these objectives and concepts to the case of Puerto Rico.
REQUIREMENTS / EVALUATION
1) Participation (10%) and Attendance (10%)
You are expected to attend class and participate in discussions. Classroom discussions will lead
to group work, and vice versa. You must bring the book with assigned readings or print out and
bring assigned readings from Moodle with you to class for discussion. Do not come to class
late – this interrupts the class. Thus two tardies will equal one absence. If your situation
warrants it, come and explain to me why you have to be late.
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2) Assignments – Homework Questions, Summary/Reflection Papers, and Quizzes (30%)
You are expected to complete readings and assignments before class. “Homework Questions”
are to be answered in writing. However “Discussion Questions” are only for discussion in class.
Quizzes will be short answer type or asking for your opinion/analysis of a topic from specified
readings. Quizzes are scheduled and unscheduled.
3) Mid-Term Paper (3-5 pages) - 20%
Final Paper (3-5 pages) - 20%
You will write two short original papers for the course. The papers should reflect the themes
and concepts stressed in relation to the material discussed. You should choose topics you are
personally interested in and that have meaning in your lives. Papers should be three pages
minimum in length.
4) Final Presentation - 10%
You will give a 5-10 minute oral presentation on one of your papers, preferable the final paper.
PROCEDURES
*Política de acomodo - Los/as estudiantes que reciben servicios de Rehabilitación Vocacional
deben comunicarse con el profesor durante la primera semana de clases para tener conocimiento de
cualquier tipo de acomodo razonable pertinente y el equipo de asistencia necesario conforme con
las recomendaciones de la Oficina de Asuntos para las Personas con Impedimentos (OAPI) del
Decanato de Estudiantes de la UPR. También aquellos estudiantes con necesidades especiales que
requieren algún tipo de asistencia o acomodo deben comunicarlo al profesor para su conocimiento.
Tenga presente que el profesor no asume las responsabilidades de OAPI.
*Plagiarism - You must do your own work throughout the semester. Copying sentences “word-forword” from any particular source, in whole or in part, is not allowed. You must either paraphrase in
your own words or use quotation marks to express your points and ideas. A general rule is that no
more than four words can be used consecutively without quotes. Both paraphrased and quoted
material must be cited, with quoted material not making up more than 20 percent of a particular
assignment or paper. The recycling of papers (or submitting the papers of others) is of course
prohibited. Any of the above misfortunes can result in failure for the assignment, the course, or
disciplinary action that may include suspension or expulsion from the university. Please see the
“Reglamento de Estudiantes” for more information.
*All cellular phones and other devices must be turned off and put away unless directly related to the
material being studied.
*For help with English writing, you are encouraged to visit the tutoring center: Centro de
Competencia Linguistica (edificio ERA).
REQUIRED TEXTS
There is one textbook required for the course. It can be purchased at Librería Norberto González
(Ave. Ponce de León 1012), or online, at amazon.com for example.
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Patrick H. O’Neil, Essentials of Comparative Politics (Fourth Edition), (New York: W.W.
Norton & Company, 2012).
READINGS / MATERIAL
The additional readings below will be made available on Moodle. The material and books listed can
also be used as supplementary sources for assignments and term papers.
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Lisa García Bedolla, Latino Politics (Cambridge, MA: Polity Press, 2014).
Ted C. Lewellen, Political Anthropology: An Introduction (Westport, CT & London: Praeger,
2003).
Arturo Escobar, “The Making and Unmaking of the Third World through Development,” and
Ivan Illich, “Development as Planned Poverty,” in The Post-Development Reader, eds. Majid
Rahnema and Victoria Bawtree (London & New York: Zed Books, 1997).
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, and William A. Joseph, “Introducing Comparative Politics,” in
Introduction to Comparative Politics (Boston: Wadsworth, 2012).
Luis N. Rivera, “Alexander’s Papal Bulls,” in A Violent Evangelism: The Political and
Religious Conquest of the Americas (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992).
David I. Kertzer, “The Power of Rites” and “Flaming Crosses and Body Snatchers,” in
Ritual, Politics, and Power (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988).
M. Annette Jaimes, “The Stone Age Revisited: An Indigenist View of Primitivism,
Industrialism and the Labor Process,” New Studies on the Left 14, no. 3 (Winter 1990-1991).
Selected chapters from, Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands: The New Mestiza (San Francisco:
Aunt Lute Books, 1987).
Edna Acosta-Belén and Carlos Santiago, “Overcoming the Colonial Experience: Future
Challenges,” Puerto Ricans in the United States: A Contemporary Portrait (Boulder: Lynne
Rienner Publishers, 2006).
Jack Weatherford, “The Founding Indian Fathers,” in Indian Givers: How the Indians of the
Americas Transformed the World (New York: Crown Publishers, 1988).
José Martí, Reader: Writings on the Americas, eds. Deborah Shnookal and Mirta Muñiz
(Melbourne: Ocean Press, 1999).
Frank J. Lechner and John Boli, eds., The Globalization Reader (Malden, MA: Blackwell
Publishing, 2004).
Tony Castanha, “Adventures in Indigenous Caribbean Resistance, Survival, and Continuity in
Borikén (Puerto Rico),” in Wicazo Sa Review 25, no. 2 (2010).
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Week 1
*January 19 - Introductions: Syllabus/Course Requirements/Personal Introductions.
*January 21 - Kesselman, Krieger and Joseph, “Introducing Comparative Politics,” in
Introduction to Comparative Politics (handout).
*Discussion Questions for Jan. 21: What are “collective identities”? What do
“comparativists” do? What are some “levels of analysis”? Think of an example of a
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“causal theory” related to a political, social or economic situation.
Week 2
*January 26 - O’Neil, Chapter 1, “Introduction,” in Essentials of Comparative Politics.
*January 28 - Garcia Bedolla, “Introduction: Latinos and U.S. Politics,” in Latino Politics.
Film: How Your Genetic Code Might Decide Your Vote.
*Homework Questions for Jan. 26 - O’NEIL: What is “comparative politics” according to
O’Neil? Explain one problem of comparative research. Using the information so far
provided, compare the O’Neil and Kesselman readings.
Comparative Political Systems
Week 3
*February 2 - Lewellen, “Types of Preindustrial Political Systems,” in Political
Anthropology; Film: A Mau A Mau.
*February 4 - Jaimes, “The Stone Age Revisited,” in New Studies on the Left; Film: A Mau A
Mau.
*Homework Questions for Feb. 2 - LEWELLEN: What are some dilemmas with the
classification of human groups? What are differences between uncentralized, centralized,
and state political systems? Discussion Questions for Feb. 4 - JAIMES: In what ways were
indigenous societies sophisticated? Why are our perceptions of indigenous ways of life
based on myth (or societal inventions) and so inherently contradictory?
Week 4
*February 9 - O’Neil, Chapter 2, “States,” in Essentials of Comparative Politics.
*February 11 - Weatherford, “The Founding Indian Fathers,” in Indian Givers; Film:
Vanishing
Prayer.
*Summary/Reflection Paper (one page) for Feb. 11 - WEATHERFORD: Regarding
the important ways the Iroquois League influenced the beginnings of the U.S. federal
government and system, summarize the main points of the reading and reflect on why this
history is essentially blanketed in our schools.
Power Politics
Week 5
*February 16 - Machiavelli, “Introduction,” The Prince; Film: The Corporation.
*February 18 - O’Neil, Chapter 3, “Nations and Society,” in Essentials of Comparative
Politics.
*Quiz for Feb. 18 on Machiavelli and O’Neil readings.
Week 6
*February 23 - Rivera, “Alexander’s Papal Bulls,” in A Violent Evangelism.
*February 25 - Film: The Corporation.
Week 7
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*March 1 - “How and What to Compare” y “Sample Paper” (print out and bring to class).
*March 3 - O’Neil, Chapter 4, “Political Economy,” in Essentials of Comparative
Politics.
*Outline for paper due March 3. Paper should be more historical in content and can be
on any topic from Weeks 1-7
Democratic and Nondemocratic Regimes
Week 8
*March 8 - O’Neil, Chapter 5, “Democratic Regimes,” in Essentials of Comparative
Politics; Film: The Tribunal.
*March 10 - Martí, “The Truth About the United States” and “To the Editor of the New
York Evening Post: A Vindication of Cuba,” in Reader; Film: The Tribunal.
*Homework Questions for March 10 - MARTÍ: How does Martí depict the United States?
What do you agree or disagree with? In his letter to the editor, does Martí’s sentiment relate
in any way to today? How?
Week 9
*March 15 - O’Neil, Chapter 6, “Nondemocratic Regimes,” in Essentials of Comparative
Politics.
*March 17 - Castanha, “Adventures in Indigenous Caribbean Resistance, Survival, and
Continuity in Borikén (Puerto Rico),” in Wicazo Sa Review.
*Paper due March 17.
Week 10 - Receso Académico
The Development Paradigm and Political Violence
Week 11
*March 29 - O’Neil, Chapter 10, “Less Developed and Newly Industrializing Countries,” in
Essentials of Comparative Politics; Film: Life and Debt.
*March 31 - Escobar, “The Making and Unmaking of the Third World through Development,
in The Post-Development Reader; Film: Life and Debt.
*Discussion Questions for March 29 - O’NEIL: What common elements resulted from the
imposition of imperialism on less developed countries? Describe some challenges of postimperialism. According to the author, what are some future prospects for democracy and
development?
Week 12
*April 5 - Ivan Illich, “Development as Planned Poverty,” in The Post-Development Reader.
*April 7 - O’Neil, Chapter 7, “Political Violence,” in Essentials of Comparative Politics;
Eqbal Ahmad on “Terrorism: Theirs and Ours.”
*Summary/Reflection Paper for April 5 - ESCOBAR y ILLICH: Summarize the readings and
reflect on the discourse of development as “planned poverty.” Agree or disagree? What
might
be some remedies to this issue?
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Ritual and Globalization
Week 13
*April 12 - O’Neil, Chapter 9, “Communism and Postcommunism,” in Essentials of
Comparative Politics.
*April 14 - Kertzer, “The Power of Rites” and “Flaming Crosses and Body Snatchers,” in
Ritual, Politics, and Power.
*Quiz for April 14 on O’Neil and Kertzer readings.
Week 14
*April 19 - O’Neil, Chapter 11, “Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics,” in
Essentials of Comparative Politics; Film: A Place Called Chiapas.
*April 21 - Sen, “How to Judge Globalism,” and Stiglitz, “Globalism’s Discontents,” in
The Globalization Reader; Film: A Place Called Chiapas.
*Homework Questions for April 21 - SEN AND STIGLITZ: According to the authors, what
are some misperceptions, benefits and detriments of globalism? How can globalization be a
more positive instrument in terms of the distribution of wealth, reducing poverty, and
creating a more socially just society, both globally and in Puerto Rico?
The Latina/o Comparative Future
Week 15
*April 26 - Selected chapters from Anzaldúa, Borderlands; Film: Un día sin mexicanos.
*April 28 - Ramos, “The New Neighbors Next Door,” The Latino Wave.
*Discussion Questions for April 26 - ANZALDÚA: Describe life for Mexicans on the “US
side” of the border after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago. What personal
perspective is the author writing from and discuss her rebellion. What is the significance of
the serpent in Mexican/Chicano culture? Outline for paper due April 28. You can write on
any topic of interest from Weeks 8-16.
Week 16
*May 3 - García Bedolla, “Latina/o Participation: Individual Activity and Institutional
Context,” in Latino Politics.
*May 5 - Acosta-Belén and Carlos Santiago, “Overcoming the Colonial Experience: Future
Challenges,” Puerto Ricans in the United States.
*Discussion for May 5 on political future of Puerto Rico.
Week 17
*May 10 - Preparation for final presentation.
*Final presentation / Final paper due - May 16–24.
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