Introduction to Political Science

Contact:

Gergely GUSZMANN, PhD

Associate Professor, Political Science Department
guszmann@ektf.hu , gguszmann@gmail.com
Room: B 308

Course description:

The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the scholarship of politics. The main
overarching theme is the distinction between politics and political science. At completion the
students should be able to formulate research questions as political scientists, approach topics
of interest from an analytical point of view versus a descriptive or opinionated view more
common to the average consumer of politics.

Course schedule and readings:

1. Course introduction: the study of politics. What is politics and how do political
scientists study it?
- GRIGSBY, Ellen: Analyzing Politics. An Introduction to Political Science.
Wadsworth: 2009. p. 12-17.
- Andrea Birghini: What Is Political Science?
http://philosophy.about.com/od/Political_Science/a/What-Is-Political-Science.htm
2. History of Political Science: From City States to Sovereign States I.
- SPELLMAN, W.M.: A Short History of Western Political Thought. Palgrave
Macmillan, 2011. 1-59.
3. History of Political Science: Citizenship and the Modern State II.
- SPELLMAN, W.M.: A Short History of Western Political Thought. Palgrave
Macmillan, 2011. 60-111.
4. History of Political Science: New Challenges and Subjects III.
- SPELLMAN, W.M.: A Short History of Western Political Thought. Palgrave
Macmillan, 2011. 111-163.
5. Key concepts in political science: power, state and government.
- GRIGSBY, Ellen: Analyzing Politics. An Introduction to Political Science.
Wadsworth: 2009. p. 42. 43. 48. 50. 53. 56-57. 59-66. 57-70.
- Tom G. Palmer: The Origins of State and Government
http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/catosletterv10n4.pdf
6. Political theory and the modern state
- GRIGSBY, Ellen: Analyzing Politics. An Introduction to Political Science.
Wadsworth: 2009. p. 75-79. 98-100. 106-112. 116-123.
- Anthony Giddens: The Welfare State in a Modern European Society
http://www.uoc.edu/symposia/caixamanresa/jornadaeconomia/eng/giddens.pdf
7. The democratic state and other major political systems
- WARREN, Mark E.: Democracy and the State. p. 382-389.
- SAWARD, Michael: Democracy and Citizenship: Expanding Domains. p. 399-409.
- Philip Donovan: The Five Most Common Political Systems Around the World
 http://politicalcommunicationdivisions.blogspot.hu/2011/08/five-most-common-
political-systems.html
- Political systems
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/street/pl38/sect2.htm
8. Political institutions: the role of executives and legislatures (decision making), the
role of bureaucracy (implementation), the role of judiciary (adjudication)
- WARREN, Mark E.: Democracy and the State. p. 389-393.
- John Gerring: Political Institutions and Human Development
http://www.bu.edu/sthacker/files/2012/01/Political-Institutions-and-Human-
Development.pdf
9. Major political actors: political parties, interest groups and policy institutes
GRIGSBY, Ellen: Analyzing Politics. An Introduction to Political Science.
Wadsworth: 2009. p. 203-216.
10. Voting and other forms of political participation: the electoral system
- GRIGSBY, Ellen: Analyzing Politics. An Introduction to Political Science.
Wadsworth: 2009. p. 217. 226-228.
- Electoral systems
http://www.eca.gov.au/systems/single/by_category/preferential.htm

Student expectations:

This class will be both lecture and discussion-based. Therefore, I expect you to come to class
regularly, arrive on time, and be active participants in discussions. These expectations require
that all reading be completed in advance of the date in which it is assigned. Several in-class
quizzes will be given to facilitate class discussion and ensure students are reading. The
quizzes will generally be given at the start of class. If you are late and we have already gone
over the quiz answers, you will not be able to retake the quiz and you will receive a zero. If
you miss a quiz because of illness or other valid reason, you must email me and be prepared
to take the quiz upon your return to class.

Assessment:

Students are required to write three minute papers during the semester, which form a
considerable part of the overall grade. Minute papers are short written exercises on key points
of the lecture’s assignment (e.g. readings, contents of previous lectures). Those who complete
the assessment tasks (e.g. written tests, article analysis) are allowed to go to the final oral
exam. Class attention and participation will also count for the overall grade.