CSUN  Wordmark
Page Description

The following page is a two column layout with a header that contains a quicklinks jump menu and the search CSUN function. Page sections are identified with headers. The footer contains update, contact and emergency information.

 

Comparative Political Ideologies – Spring 2014

Contact Informaton

Dr. Saroukhanian

Instructional Materials

Textbooks:

Textbook cover for Political Ideologies: A Comparative Approach, 2nd edition

 


‪Political Ideologies: A Comparative Approach, 2nd edition
Author: Mostafa Rejaia
Publisher and Year: M.E. Sharpe, 1995

Textbook cover for Political Ideologies: An Introduction, 5th edition


 

Political Ideologies: An Introduction, 5th edition
Author: Andrew Heywood
Publisher and Year: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012

Moodle:

Additional reading will be posted in Moodle.

http://moodle.csun.edu

Important Notices

If you wish to contact me, you may send an email to talin.saroukhanian@csun.edu with "POLS 321 " typed in the message subject area. This way I know you are one of my current students and I will do my best to respond within 24-48 hours. Do not send me messages on Moodle.

Policies

Student Conduct Code:

http://www.csun.edu/a&r/soc/studentconduct.html

Academic Policy:

http://www.csun.edu/anr/soc/legalnotices.html

Class Accommodations

Students with Disabilities

http://www.csun.edu/cod/index.php

Students with disabilities must first register with the Center on Disabilities (and complete a service agreement each semester. You may contact them for the specifics at 818-677-2684.

If you are a student utilizing the Center's services and you are registered with them, please notify me at the beginning of the class.

Support Services for Students


Learning Resource Center:

677-2033, Bayramian Hall 408.

“The mission of the LRC is to enable students to improve their academic performance through a variety of learning programs including workshops, one-on-one and group tutoring, Supplemental Instruction classes and interactive subject area computer programs and videos. Students who use LRC learning programs will develop and strengthen their critical thinking skills, study strategies, writing skills and performance in subject matter courses”. http://www.csun.edu/lrc

Academic Advisement:

“The college-based academic advisement centers are available to assist students in selecting courses and programs of study and in choosing or declaring a major or minor. Visit the website to locate the advising center for your major, or for undeclared majors”. http://www.csun.edu/ugs/advisement.html

University Counseling Services:

677-2366, Bayramian Hall 520.

"UCS provides resources and information to assist students in dealing with a variety of large and small psychological obstacles that may interfere with academic progress and/or relationship satisfaction. Services include individual, group and crisis counseling”. http://www.csun.edu/counseling

Center on Disabilities:

677-2684, Bayramian Hall 110.

"The Center on Disabilities serves students with a wide range of visible and hidden disabilities, in a confidential environment. Students are encouraged to meet with the professional staff and explore the services available to support their academic, career and personal goals. Discover accommodations and strategies for help with disabilities in an academic setting”. http://www.csun.edu/cod/index.php

The Career Center:

677-2878, University Hall 105.

"Need some help in deciding on a career? Or do you know your career and need to meet employers? Perhaps your resume needs some sprucing up? The Career Center offers a variety of services for students, from those new to the University to those about to graduate into the world of work”. http://www.csun.edu/career/students

National Center on Deafness:

677-2054, Chisholm Hall 234.

"The National Center on Deafness (NCOD) has served over 2,500 students who are deaf and hard of hearing over the past 44 years. NCOD provides communication access, leadership opportunities, scholarships, academic advisement, tutoring, and direct communication classes for approximately 200 students who are deaf and hard of hearing each year". http://www.csun.edu/ncod/programs/mission.html

Course Information

Course Description

Examines, compares and contrasts a range of political ideologies and their interpretation and application in contemporary societies. Attention is paid to defining the role and function of ideologies in specific contemporary states. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.)


Course Learning Objectives

Develop a Global Perspective – Students should demonstrate knowledge and theories relevant to global politics and policies. This includes knowledge of Western and non-Western political systems, processes, values and models of politics and patterns of interaction among them. Students should demonstrate an understanding and respect for economic, socio-cultural, political and environmental interaction of global life.

 

Learning objective Below expectation Satisfactory Exemplary
Make detailed scientific observations that allows one to organize patterns of behavior in a particular cultural context Evidence suggests that student is unable to use social science observation methods to analyze cultural contexts Evidence suggests that student is able to apply social science observational methods but unable to make analytical links Evidence suggests that student applies social science observational methods effectively and is able to analyze particular cultural contexts

 

Course Requirements & Grading

Discussion Lead and Participation:

Students are expected to be prepared to discuss the reading for each class meeting and to be able to lead group disussions when assigned. The reading must be completed for prior to the class meeting as indicated on the course schedule below. There will be discussions questions assigned for the chapter readings to be completed in class.

Exams:

There will be four exams in the class throughout the semester instead of having the tradtional midterm and final exams.

Attendance and Participation:

Students are expected to be on time and prepared to discuss the reading for each class meeting as well asbe able to lead group disussions when assigned. The reading must be completed for prior to the class meeting as indicated on the course schedule below. There will be discussions questions assigned for the chapter readings to be completed in class.

 

The grading will be broken down as follows

 

Exam 1
20
Exam 2
20
Exam 3
20
Exam 4
20
Attendance and Participation
20

 

*There will be no extra credit or make-up work available in the course. Make sure to mark your personal calendars in advance since the due dates are not negotiable.

 

Percentage
Grade
95-100
A
90-94
A-
87-89
B+
83-86
B
80-82
B-
77-79
C+
73-76
C
70-72
C-
67-69
D+
63-66
D
60-62
D-
0-59
F

 

Course Schedule

 

Tuesday

January 21

Course review and introduction

Thursday

January 23

Heywood, Ch. 1 - "Ideology and Ideologies"

Rejai, Ch. 1 - "Comparative Analysis of Political Ideologies"

Tuesday

January 28

Rejai, Ch. 7 - "Democracy"

John Locke - "Treatise of Civil Government" (Moodle)

James Madison et al. - Federalist Papers Nos. 10 and 51 (Moodle)

Thursday

January 30

Heywood, Ch. 2 - "Liberalism"

Heywood, Ch. 3 - "Conservatism"

Tuesday

February 4

"American Feud: A History of Conservatives and Liberals"

Thursday

February 6

Heywood, Ch. 4 - "Marxism"

Rejai, Ch. 4 - "Socialism"

Marx and Engels - "The Communist Manifesto" (Moodle)

Tuesday

February 11

Rejai, Ch. 5 - "Leninism"

Lenin - "State and Revolution" (Moodle)

Thursday

February 13

"Reds"

Tuesday

February 18

"Reds" (Continued)

Thursday

February 20

Rejai, Ch. 6 - "Guerrilla Communism"

Tuesday

February 25

G. W. Hurd - "The Political Theory of Ernesto Che Guevara" (Moodle)

Peter Rosset et al. - "Zapatismo in the Movement of Movements" (Moodle)

Thursday

February 27

Exam

Tuesday

March 4

Heywood, Ch. 6 - "Nationalism"

Rejai, Ch. 2 - "Nationalism"

Thursday

March 6

Heywood, Ch. 7 - "Facism"

Benito Mussolini - "Facism: Doctrines and Institutions"

Tuesday

March 11

"The Furies: Mussolini in Power "

Thursday

March 13

Rejai, Ch. 3 - "Facism and Nazism"

Adolf Hitler - "Mein Kampf" (Moodle)

Tuesday

March 18

"Hitler and the Third Reich: The Rise of the Third Reich"

Thursday

March 20

"Ideologies and Evil Dictators" Jeopardy review game (Review session)

Tuesday

March 25

Exam

Thursday

March 27

Heywood, Ch. 5 - "Anarchism"

Emma Goldman - "Anarchism: What it Really Stands for" (Moodle)

Starhawk - "How We Really Shutdown the WTO" (Moodle)

Tuesday

April 1

"Anarchism in America"

Thursday

April 3

Rejai, Ch. 8 - "Feminism"

Heywood, Ch. 8 - "Feminism"

Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards - "What is Feminism?" (Moodle)

Tuesday

April 15

Heywood, Ch. 9 "Ecologism"

Rachel Carson - "Silent Spring"

Al Gore - "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit" (Moodle)

Rejai, Ch. 9 - "Environmentalism"

Thursday

April 17

Exam

Tuesday

April 22

"Capitalism: A Love Story"

Bruce Berman - "Artificial Intelligence and the Ideology of Capitalist Reconstruction" (Moodle)

Kenichi Ohmae - "The End of the Nation-State: The Rise of Regional Economies" (Moodle)

Thursday

April 24

Manfred Steger - "Ideologies of globalization" (Moodle)

Benjamin Barber - "Jihad vs. McWorld" (Moodle)

Imam Khomeini - "Lectures on the Supreme Jihad" (Moodle)

Tuesday

April 29

Heywood, Ch. 10 - "Religious Fundamentalism"

Edward Said - "Origins of Terrorism" (Moodle)

Andrew Vincent - "Fundamentalism" (Moodle)

Thursday

May 1

Heywood, Ch. 11 - "Multiculturalism"

Samuel Huntington - "The Clash of Civilizations" (Moodle)

Tuesday

May 6

Heywood, Ch. 12 - "Conclusion: A Post-Ideological Age"

Rejai, Ch. 10 - "Recapitulation"

Thursday

May 8

Exam

 

At any time this syllabus may be amended or revised. Students will be notified if any changes are made.

 

4/1/144/1/14