Comparative Government

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 4
• Convenor: Dale Mineshima-Lowe
• Assessment: a 500-word mini critical review task (20%), 500-word seminar log (20%) and 1500-word critical review essay (60%)

This module introduces you to the comparative study of political institutions and systems. It focuses on a number of states from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, including large and small, rich and poor countries, democracies, one-party systems and theocratic states, monarchies and republics, unitary and federal systems.

Subjects covered include constitutions, legislatures, executives, the judiciary, bureaucracy, political parties, electoral systems, political movements, and political communication.

The module aims to:

• introduce you to the principal institutions and systems of government and politics
• present you with knowledge about different kinds of political institutions and systems from across the world
• enable you to acquire theories and methods for researching and comparing differences and similarities in political institutions and systems between states
• enhance your abilities to use and present information in writing and orally.

By the end of the module, you should:

• be familiar with role of main political institutions and systems
• have a broad understanding of the diversity of political institutions and systems
• have knowledge of government and politics in several countries
• be able to produce comparative analysis and critically analyse comparative case studies
• be familiar with academic literature and debates about comparative government and politics.