Middle East Technical University

Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences

Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Fall 2021 (On-line)
Prof. Dr. Pınar Köksal
E-Mail: akcali@metu.edu.tr

ADM 1121 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS I

This course provides the introductory conceptual framework for the study of politics.
Following a general introduction to the concept of politics, there will be a rather
extensive discussion of major political ideologies. This section of the course focuses
on liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, although some other political ideologies
will be briefly discussed as well. The last section of the course is devoted to the study
of state, arguably the most important concept in the discipline of political science.
The course also aims to familiarize the students with contemporary debates through
the assignments on novels and films.

Lectures (all are through ODTUClass Zoom System) Wednesdays 9:40-12.30

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1) Midterm exam (30 % of your grade on 6 December, Monday)

2) Final examination (40 % of your grade; date to be announced)

3) Three assignments (10 points each):

Assignment I: due on November 24

Persepolis, animated film (2207) directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi

Assignment II: due on December 22

Blindness, novel by Jose Saramago, 1995

Assignment III: due on January 12

Black Mirror, season 3, Episode 5 Men against Fire

For this on-line course, no specific points are assigned for attendance. However, the
students will be given extra points for their answers to the questions asked by the
instructor during the on-line sessions. Those students who do not participate to class
will not lose any points, but those who do, will get an additional 2 points for each
answer 

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 COURSE OUTLINE

WHAT IS POLITICS? (Weeks 1-4)

 Defining Politics
 Studying Politics
 Politics in a Global Age

Required reading: Chapter 1, “What is Politics?”, of the textbook

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES (Weeks 5-11)

 Liberalism
 Conservatism
 Socialism
 Other Ideologies

Required reading: Chapter 2, “Political Ideas and Ideologies”, of the textbook

POLITICS AND THE STATE (Weeks 12-14)

 Defining the state

 Debating the state
 Eclipse of the state?

Required reading: Chapter 3, “Politics and the State”, of the textbook

TEXTBOOK

Andrew Heywood, Politics (4. Edition), Palgrave Macmillan, 2013

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