Introduction To Comparative Politics
- Social Sciences
- 200 level
- 3 credit units
- 132 pages
- 17 units
This course, Introduction to Comparative Politics, is designed for undergraduate students in Political Science and related social science disciplines. It offers a comprehensive comparison of political systems across the world, emphasizing different types of political systems. The course introduces students to the foundations of comparative politics, exploring the works of its founding scholars and their perspectives. Special attention is given to the Nigerian context, providing relevant case studies and examples. The course aims to equip students with analytical skills.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 234 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of POL228, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL228 · UNIT 2: ORIGIN OF COMPARATIVE POLITICS
In the same vein, comparative politics “aim at an exact knowledge of the nature, end and means of Government. It compares the different forms of government with each other and each of them with their effects on the public and private happiness”.
What you should be able to do
- Discuss the definitions, scope, and origin of Comparative Politics.
- Explain the approaches to the study of Comparative Politics.
- Understand the importance and limitations of Comparative Politics.
- Comprehend the logic of comparative social inquiry.
- Identify the focus and thrust of comparative politics.
What it prepares you for
- Political Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Diplomat
- Researcher
- Journalist
- Government
- International Organizations
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Research Institutions
- Media
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- MODULE 3: METHODS OF COMPARATIVE STUDY
Unit 1: Comparing Many Countries
The unit requires a deep understanding of statistical methods and data analysis, which can be challenging for students without a strong quantitative background.
- MODULE 4: COMPARATIVE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Unit 5: Judiciary in Comparative Perspectives
The unit demands a comprehensive understanding of the historical and theoretical underpinnings of different judicial systems, requiring students to critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 26 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1MODULE 1: BACKGROUND TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 1: Definitions of Politics and Comparative Politics · 2 hours
Read the definition of politics and comparative politics.. Understand the sub-fields of political science.. Identify the different forms of comparison..
- Week 2MODULE 1: BACKGROUND TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 2: Origin of Comparative Politics · 2 hours
Study the origin of comparative politics.. Examine the traditional and renaissance periods.. Understand the age of enlightenment and the modern era..
- Week 3MODULE 1: BACKGROUND TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 3: Comparative Methods · 2 hours
Understand the comparative method.. Differentiate between normative and empirical research.. Explain why we compare and the advantages of comparison..
- Week 4MODULE 1: BACKGROUND TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 4: Focus or Thrust of Comparative Politics · 2 hours
Identify the main focus of comparative politics.. Discuss the most similar and most different systems.. Understand the thrust of comparative politics..
- Week 5MODULE 2: TOOLS OF COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 1: Concepts & Models · 2 hours
Understand the meaning of concepts and models.. Study the different types of models.. Explain the importance of theories in comparative politics..
- Week 6MODULE 2: TOOLS OF COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 2: Theories & Logic · 2 hours
Understand paradigms, abstraction, and logic.. Identify logical fallacies in political analysis.. Apply critical thinking to political studies..
- Week 7MODULE 2: TOOLS OF COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 3: Classification · 2 hours
Define classification and its importance.. Understand the steps involved in classification.. Identify issues and challenges in classification..
- Week 8MODULE 2: TOOLS OF COMPARATIVE POLITICS
Unit 4: Case Study · 2 hours
Understand what a case study is.. Learn how to conduct a case study.. Apply case study method in comparative political studies..
- Week 9MODULE 3: METHODS OF COMPARATIVE STUDY
Unit 1: Comparing Many Countries · 2 hours
Understand the meaning and characteristics of comparing many countries.. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of comparing many countries.. Apply quantitative methods in comparative analysis..
- Week 10MODULE 3: METHODS OF COMPARATIVE STUDY
Unit 2: Comparing Few Countries · 2 hours
Understand the meaning of comparing few countries.. Study the most similar systems design.. Study the most different systems design..
- Week 11MODULE 3: METHODS OF COMPARATIVE STUDY
Unit 3: Single- Country Studies · 2 hours
Define single-country studies.. Understand the usefulness of single-country studies.. Apply single-country studies in comparative analysis..
- Week 12MODULE 3: METHODS OF COMPARATIVE STUDY
Unit 4: Difficulties in Comparison · 2 hours
Identify the difficulties in comparison.. Understand complementary challenges.. Apply methods to overcome difficulties in comparison..
- Week 13MODULE 3: METHODS OF COMPARATIVE STUDY
Unit 5: Comparative Democratic Order- Federalism · 2 hours
Understand comparative democratic order.. Study federalism.. Compare federalism across different countries..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed summaries of each unit, focusing on key concepts and definitions.
- Develop comparative charts outlining the strengths and weaknesses of different political systems.
- Practice applying comparative methods to analyze contemporary political issues.
- Review case studies from Nigeria and other countries to illustrate theoretical concepts.
- Form study groups to discuss and debate different perspectives on comparative politics.
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL228 about?
This course, Introduction to Comparative Politics, is designed for undergraduate students in Political Science and related social science disciplines. It offers a comprehensive comparison of political systems across the world, emphasizing different types of political systems. The course introduces students to the foundations of comparative politics, exploring the works of its founding scholars and their perspectives. Special attention is given to the Nigerian context, providing relevant case studies and examples. The course aims to equip students with analytical skills.
How many units does POL228 have?
POL228, Introduction To Comparative Politics, has 17 units across 4 modules, over 132 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL228?
POL228 carries 3 credit units, at 200 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL228 hard?
POL228 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does POL228 take to study?
About 234 hours of study, spread across its 17 units.
How is POL228 assessed?
POL228 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with POL228?
Political Analyst, Policy Advisor, Diplomat, Researcher and Journalist.