I. The Global Challenges of Comparative Politics- People in the United States have less to spend. Unemployment went sky-high after WWII. College graduates had a hard time finding well- paying jobs.
A. Remarkable Development
1. Democratic surge
2. Military intervention
a. Coalition in which the United States played a critical role to refuse leadership.
3. March 2011, Japan was devastated by a triple shock, earthquake, 46 foot high wall of water swept through the Northeast region of Japan’s largest island, and lastly were the six nuclear reactions.
4. Osama Bin Laden death in the spring of 2011
5. Introduction to comparative politics studies now different countries both shape and are shaped by the world.
6. Critical juncture- helps define key transitional moments.
II. Making sense of Turbulent Times
A. Understanding Today World
1. World of states- historical formation, internal organization, interacting of states within the international order
2. Governing the Economy- The role of the state in economic management
3. The Democratic Idea- The spread of democracy and the challenges of democratization
4. Political of Collective Identities- The source and political impact of diverse collective identities
B. Benefits of Comparative Politics
1. By studying comparative politics, the student acquires analytical skills that can be used at home.
2. You began to think comparatively
3. Inspire new reflections, interpretations and sights
Section 2
I. What and how Comparative politics compares
A. Comparative Politics- a subfield within the academic discipline of political science as well as a method or approach to study of politics
1. The democratic politics of countries or people
2. It is believed that students in the U.S. should take a class that elaborates of the country
3. Comparative study makes it easier to recognize what is distinctive about the United States and what features it shares with some other countries
4. Comparative involves comparing domestic political institutional, processes, policies, conflicts and attitudes in different countries
5. The “World of States”, emphasizes the interaction of domestic and international forces in the politics off all nations
6. Globalization- The development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets.
7. Keynesianism- An approach that gives priority to government regulation of economy
8. Neoliberalism- Emphasizes the importance of market friendly policies.
II. Level of Analysis
A. Countries- distinct, politically defined territories that encompasses government, composed of political institutions, as well as cultures, economic and collective identities.
1. States- key