SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE

Course Code	Course Name	Year	Semester	Theoretical	Practical	Credit	ECTS
POL6201	Comparative Politics	3	Fall	3	0	3	6

Course Type :	University Elective
Cycle:	Bachelor      TQF-HE:6. Master`s Degree      QF-EHEA:First Cycle      EQF-LLL:6. Master`s Degree
Language of Instruction:	English
Prerequisities and Co-requisities:	N/A
Mode of Delivery:	Face to face
Name of Coordinator:	Doçent Dr. PINAR SAYAN
Dersin Öğretim Eleman(lar)ı:	Doçent Dr. PINAR SAYAN
Dersin Kategorisi:	Competency Development (University Elective)

SECTION II: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Course Objectives & Content

Course Objectives:	The aim of this course is to introduce the nature and methods of Comparative Politics; formation and functioning of different kinds of regimes, institutions, actors and processes.
Course Content:	Within the scope of this course, the historical background and methods of Comparative Politics; formation of states; regime types; transition between regimes; institutions of legislation, executive and jurisdiction; political actors and processes are covered on the basis of comparative case studies.

Course Specific Rules

It is expected from students to read the weekly assignments.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are those describing the knowledge, skills and competencies that students are expected to achieve upon successful completion of the course. In this context, Course Learning Outcomes defined for this course unit are as follows:

Knowledge (Described as Theoritical and/or Factual Knowledge.)

1) Explains the comparative methods and why they are used.

2) Compares different political systems through case studies.

3) Identifies the contemporary debates in the field of Comparative Politics.

Skills (Describe as Cognitive and/or Practical Skills.)

1) Analyzes the impact of different political systems on politics.

Competences (Described as "Ability of the learner to apply knowledge and skills autonomously with responsibility", "Learning to learn"," Communication and social" and "Field specific" competences.)

Weekly Course Schedule

Week	Subject	Materials Sharing *
		Related Preparation	Further Study
1)	Introduction	Caramani, D. (2020). “Introduction to Comparative Politics” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1-19. Pennings, P. and Keman, H. (2020). “Comparative Research Methods” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 50-65.	Hatipoğlu, E. M. (2018). “Karşılaştırmalı Siyasette Yöntem” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 26-46. Sayarı, S. (2020). “Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset”. Küresel Çalışmalar. https://kureselcalismalar.com/karsilastirmali-siyaset/ Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (2018). “Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset Alanının Gelişimi” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 6-24.
2)	State Formation	Poggi, G. (2020). “The Nation-State” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 69-84. Databases: Fragile States Index https://fragilestatesindex.org/ QoG Data: https://www.gu.se/en/quality-government/qog-data#data-downloads	AlJazeera World (2017). Yemen: The North-South Divide. https://www.aljazeera.com/program/al-jazeera-world/2017/12/8/yemen-the-north-south-divide
3)	Regimes	Pérez-Linán, A. (2020). “Democracies” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 86-102. Databases: Direct Democracy Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools Freedom House Database: https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world Global State of Democracy Indices: https://www.idea.int/data-tools Varieties of Democracy Database: https://www.v-dem.net/en/	History of Ideas-Talking Politics Podcasts, Tocqueville on Democracy: https://www.talkingpoliticspodcast.com/history-of-ideas O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “Germany” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 487-619. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “India” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 977-1098. Sözen, Y. (2018). “Siyasi Rejimler: Demokrasiler ve Diğer Sistemler” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (eds.). İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 46-76.
4)	Regimes	Lindstaedt, N. (2020). “Authoritarian Regimes” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 103-116.	Discovery Channel (2016). The King of Communism: Nicolae Ceausescu. Gürsoy, Y. (2018). “Rejim Değişiklikleri: Otoriterleşme ve Demokratikleşme” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (eds.). İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 76-103. National Geographic (2018). Dictator’s Rulebook. Netflix (2021). How to Become a Tyrant? Levitsky, S. and Way, L. A. (2002). “The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism” Journal of Democracy 13, 51-65. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “Russia” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 746-851. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “China” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 852-976. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “Iran” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 1099-1208. Sözen, Y. M. (2008). "Turkey between Tutelary Democracy and Electoral Authoritarianism". Private View, No: 14.
5)	Regimes	Müller, J.W. (2016). What is Populism? “Conclusion: Seven Thesis on Populism”. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 101-103. Databases: Authoritarian Populism Index: https://populismindex.com/ Global Populism Database https://populism.byu.edu/Pages/Data The PopuList: https://popu-list.org/	DW Documentary (2019). “Right-wing Populists and the EU”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo0dFWOMaDM Sözen, Y. (2021). “Otoriterleşme, Popülizm ve Türkiye”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_cUaJYvPpw
6)	Elections and Electoral Systems	Gallagher, M. (2020). “Elections and Referendums” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 178-192. Databases: Electoral Integrity Project: https://www.electoralintegrityproject.com/ Electoral Justice Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/electoral-justice Interactive Overview of Combinations of Electoral Systems and Quota Types: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/tools/interactive-electoral-systems-quota-types Voter Turnout Database: https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/voter-turnout	PBS (2025). Civics Made Easy | The Electoral College Explained. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOcQrnZgv5M Dikici-Bilgin, H. (2018). “Seçimler ve Seçim Sistemleri” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (eds.). İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 147-169.
7)	Political Parties and Party Systems	Caramani, D. (2020) “Party Systems “in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 231-252. Katz, R. S. (2020). “Political Parties” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 213-231. Databases: Chapel Hill Expert Survey https://www.chesdata.eu/ Global Party Survey https://www.globalpartysurvey.org/ Manifesto Project https://manifesto-project.wzb.eu/	O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “United Kingdom” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 100-226. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “Japan” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 620-745. Sayarı, S. (2018). “Siyasi Partiler ve Parti Sistemleri” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (eds.). İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 123-145.
8)	Midterm Exam
9)	Elections Simulation	Roles and tasks will be distributed before the simulation.
10)	Constitutions and Judiciary	Stone Sweet, A. (2020) “Constitutions, Rights and Judicial Power” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 159-177. Databases: Comparative Constitutions Project https://comparativeconstitutionsproject.org/ Constitute Project: https://www.constituteproject.org/ Denge ve Denetleme Ağı: https://dengedenetleme.org/ IDEA Constitution Building Project https://www.idea.int/our-work/what-we-do/constitution-building	Lepore, J. (2022, October 26). “The United States’ Unamendable Constitution”. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/the-united-states-unamendable-constitution The Constitution of the United States: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution
11)	Executives and Bureaucracy	Müller, W. C. (2020). “Governments and Bureaucracies” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 139-158. Databases: Comparative Political Dataset https://www.cpds-data.org/ European Journal of Political Research - Political Data Yearbook.: :https://politicaldatayearbook.com/ Party Systems & Governments Observatory: https://whogoverns.eu/ https://whogovernsasia.com/	Ayan Musil, P. (2018). “Hükümet Sistemleri: Başkanlık Sistemleri ve Parlamenter Sistem” in Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar (eds.) Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (eds.). İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları, 190-209. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “United States” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 227-350. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). “France” in Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company, 351-486.
12)	Coalition-Building Simulation	Roles and tasks will be distributed before the simulation.
13)	Legislatures and Multilevel Governance	Hooghe, L., Marks, G. and Schakel, A. H. (2020). “Multilevel Governance” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 194-210. Kreppel, A. (2020) “Legislatures” in Comparative Politics (ed.) Caramani, D. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 119-1 Databases: IPU Parline Global Data on National Parliaments: https://data.ipu.org/	SkyNews (2025, July 3). “The Most Memorable PMQs Moments: Insults, Gaffes, and Front Bench Dance Moves”. https://news.sky.com/story/the-most-memorable-pmqs-moments-insults-gaffes-and-front-bench-dance-moves-13391742
14)	Parliamentary Politics Simulation	Roles and tasks will be distributed before the simulation.

*These fields provides students with course materials for their pre- and further study before and after the course delivered.

Recommended or Required Reading & Other Learning Resources/Tools

Course Notes / Textbooks:

Caramani, D. (2020). Comparative Politics. (eds.) Oxford: Oxford University Press. O’Neil, P.H., Fields, K. and Share, D. (2021). Cases in Comparative Politics, New York: W.W. Norton&Company,

References:

Acemoğlu, D. and Robinson, J. A. (2012). Why Nations Fail? The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty. London: Profile Books. Almond, G. and Verba, S. (1963). The Civic Culture. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Borsuk, İ., Dinç, P., Kavak, S., Sayan, P. (eds.) (2022). Authoritarian Neoliberalism and Resistance in Turkey: Construction, Consolidation and Contestation. Palgrave Macmillan. Brooker, P. (2014). Non-Democratic Regimes. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Chandra, K. (2004). Why Ethnic Parties Succeed: Patronage and Ethnic Head Counts in India. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Dahl, R. A. (1971). Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition. New Haven: Yale University Press. Diamond, L. (2008). The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies throughout the World. Times Books, Henry Holt and Company. Downs, A. (1957). An Economic Theory of Democracy. New York: Harper and Row. Duverger, M. (1954). Political Parties. New York: John Wiley. Easton, D. (1953). The Political System: An Inquiry into the State of Political Science. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Inc. Esping-Andersen, G. (1989). The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Polity Press. Geddes, B. (1999). "What Do We Know About Democratization After Twenty Years?" Annual Review of Political Science 2, 115–144. Huntington, S. (1995). The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. New York: Simon&Schuster. Inglehart, R. (1997). Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic and Political Change in 43 Societies. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Lijphart, A. (1994). Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-Seven Democracies 1945-1990. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lijphart, A. (2012). Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries. New Haven: Yale University Press. Linz, J. (2000). Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner. Lipset, S. M. (1959). “Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development and Political Legitimacy,” American Political Science Review 53: 69-105. Lipset, S.M. and Rokkan, S. (1967). Party Systems and Voter Alignments. New York: Free Press. Moore, B. (1966). Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World. Boston: Beacon Press. Norris, P. and Inglehart, R. (2019). Cultural Backlash Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism. Cambridge University Press. Olson, M. (1965). The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Poggi, G. (1978). The Development of Modern State: A Sociological Introduction. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Przeworski, A., Alvarez, M., Cheibub, J. A. and Limongi, F. (2000). Democracy and Development. Political Institutions and Well‐Being in the World, 1950‐1990: Cambridge University Press. Putnam, R. D. (1993). Making Democracy Work. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Rokkan, S. (1970). Citizens, Elections, Parties. David MacKay. Sartori, G. (1976). Parties and Party Systems: A Framework for Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Sayarı, S. and Dikici Bilgin, H. (2018) (eds.). Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Temel Konular ve Yaklaşımlar. İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları. Schumpeter, J. (1942). Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. New York: Harper&Row. Seligson, M. A. (2002). “The Renaissance of Political Culture or the Renaissance of the Ecological Fallacy?” Comparative Politics. 34 (3), 273. Skocpol, T. (1979). States and Social Revolutions: A Comparative Analysis of France, Russia, and China. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Tilly, C. (1975) (ed.). The Formation of National States in Western Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Tilly, C. (2003). The Politics of Collective Violence. New York: Cambridge University Press. Databases: Asia Barometer http://www.asianbarometer.org/ CIA The World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ EuroBarometer https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/ European Social Survey https://www.europeansocialsurvey.org/ Gallup International Voice of the People https://www.gallup-international.com/survey-results/survey-result/voice-of-the-people Global Barometers https://www.globalbarometer.net/ International Country Risk Guide https://www.eui.eu/Research/Library/ResearchGuides/Economics/Statistics/DataPortal/Risk International Crisis Group https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch International Social Survey Program http://w.issp.org/menu-top/home/ Latinobarometro https://www.latinobarometro.org/lat.jsp New Europe Barometer http://www.cspp.strath.ac.uk/nebo.html OECD: https://www.oecd.org/en/data.html Pew Global Surveys https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/international-affairs/ UNDP Human Development Index: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI World Bank Open Data: https://data.worldbank.org/ World Public Opinion https://worldpublicopinion.net/ World Values Survey https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp

DERS ÖĞRENME ÇIKTILARI - PROGRAM ÖĞRENME ÇIKTILARI İLİŞKİSİ

Contribution of The Course Unit To The Programme Learning Outcomes

Ders Öğrenme Çıktıları (DÖÇ)	1	2	3	4
Program Öğrenme Çıktıları (PÖÇ)
1) Knowledge in mathematics, natural sciences, basic engineering, and industrial engineering–specific subjects; and the ability to use this knowledge in solving complex engineering problems.
2) Ability to identify, formulate, and analyze complex engineering problems by applying knowledge of basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering, while taking into account the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals.
3) Ability to design creative solutions to complex engineering problems; ability to design complex systems, processes, devices, or products in a way that meets present and future needs, while considering realistic constraints and conditions.
4) Ability to select and use appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and informatics tools—including prediction and modeling—for the analysis and solution of complex engineering problems, with an awareness of their limitations.
5) Ability to use research methods—including literature review, experimental design, experimentation, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results—for the investigation of complex engineering problems.
6) Knowledge of the impacts of engineering practices on society, health and safety, economy, sustainability, and the environment within the scope of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; awareness of the legal consequences of engineering solutions.
7) Knowledge of ethical responsibility and conduct in accordance with the principles of the engineering profession; awareness of acting impartially, without discrimination, and embracing diversity.
8) Ability to work effectively, individually and as a member or leader of intra-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams (face-to-face, remote, or hybrid).
9) Ability to communicate effectively on technical subjects, orally and in writing, by taking into account the diverse characteristics of the target audience (such as education, language, and profession).
10) Knowledge of business practices such as project management and economic feasibility analysis; awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation.
11) An ability to engage in lifelong learning, including independent and continuous learning, to adapt to new and emerging technologies, and to critically evaluate technological changes.

SECTION III: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COURSE UNIT AND COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLOs)

Level of Contribution of the Course to PLOs

No Effect	1 Lowest	2 Low	3 Average	4 High	5 Highest

	Programme Learning Outcomes	Contribution Level (from 1 to 5)
1)	Knowledge in mathematics, natural sciences, basic engineering, and industrial engineering–specific subjects; and the ability to use this knowledge in solving complex engineering problems.
2)	Ability to identify, formulate, and analyze complex engineering problems by applying knowledge of basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering, while taking into account the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals.
3)	Ability to design creative solutions to complex engineering problems; ability to design complex systems, processes, devices, or products in a way that meets present and future needs, while considering realistic constraints and conditions.
4)	Ability to select and use appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering and informatics tools—including prediction and modeling—for the analysis and solution of complex engineering problems, with an awareness of their limitations.
5)	Ability to use research methods—including literature review, experimental design, experimentation, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results—for the investigation of complex engineering problems.
6)	Knowledge of the impacts of engineering practices on society, health and safety, economy, sustainability, and the environment within the scope of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; awareness of the legal consequences of engineering solutions.
7)	Knowledge of ethical responsibility and conduct in accordance with the principles of the engineering profession; awareness of acting impartially, without discrimination, and embracing diversity.
8)	Ability to work effectively, individually and as a member or leader of intra-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams (face-to-face, remote, or hybrid).
9)	Ability to communicate effectively on technical subjects, orally and in writing, by taking into account the diverse characteristics of the target audience (such as education, language, and profession).
10)	Knowledge of business practices such as project management and economic feasibility analysis; awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation.
11)	An ability to engage in lifelong learning, including independent and continuous learning, to adapt to new and emerging technologies, and to critically evaluate technological changes.

SECTION IV: TEACHING-LEARNING & ASSESMENT-EVALUATION METHODS OF THE COURSE

Teaching & Learning Methods of the Course

(All teaching and learning methods used at the university are managed systematically. Upon proposals of the programme units, they are assessed by the relevant academic boards and, if found appropriate, they are included among the university list. Programmes, then, choose the appropriate methods in line with their programme design from this list. Likewise, appropriate methods to be used for the course units can be chosen among those defined for the programme.)

Teaching and Learning Methods defined at the Programme Level	Teaching and Learning Methods Defined for the Course
Lectures
Discussion
Case Study
Reading
Homework
Project Preparation
Brain Storming
Questions Answers
Individual and Group Work
Role Playing-Animation-Improvisation
Active Participation in Class

Assessment & Evaluation Methods of the Course

(All assessment and evaluation methods used at the university are managed systematically. Upon proposals of the programme units, they are assessed by the relevant academic boards and, if found appropriate, they are included among the university list. Programmes, then, choose the appropriate methods in line with their programme design from this list. Likewise, appropriate methods to be used for the course units can be chosen among those defined for the programme.)

Aassessment and evaluation Methods defined at the Programme Level	Assessment and Evaluation Methods defined for the Course
Midterm
Presentation
Final Exam

Contribution of Assesment & Evalution Activities to Final Grade of the Course

Measurement and Evaluation Methods	# of practice per semester	Level of Contribution
Homework Assignments	1	% 15.00
Midterms	1	% 35.00
Semester Final Exam	1	% 50.00
Total		% 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK		% 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK		% 50
Total		% 100

SECTION V: WORKLOAD & ECTS CREDITS ALLOCATED FOR THE COURSE

WORKLOAD OF TEACHING & LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Teaching & Learning Activities	# of Activities per semester	Duration (hour)	Total Workload
Course	14	3	42
Laboratory	0	0	0
Application	0	0	0
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)	0	0	0
Field Work	0	0	0
Study Hours Out of Class	14	2	28
Presentations / Seminar	3	1	3
Project	5	1	5
Homework Assignments	0	0	0
Total Workload of Teaching & Learning Activities	-	-	78
WORKLOAD OF ASSESMENT & EVALUATION ACTIVITIES
Assesment & Evaluation Activities	# of Activities per semester	Duration (hour)	Total Workload
Quizzes	0	0	0
Midterms	1	30	30
Semester Final Exam	1	46	46
Total Workload of Assesment & Evaluation Activities	-	-	76
TOTAL WORKLOAD (Teaching & Learning + Assesment & Evaluation Activities)			154
ECTS CREDITS OF THE COURSE (Total Workload/25.5 h)			6