Political Science

Department of Political Science
Hill Hall, Room 713
Phone:  973/353-5105
Fax:      973/353-5103
http://politicalscience.newark.rutgers.edu

AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (3 cr.)
21:790:201:W1:99082
January 2-18, 2008
MTWTh 8:30-1:00
Course also meets on Friday, January 4.
HULL                HILL 210

Concepts and theory regarding the policymaking process in American national government.  Topics include political ideas; constitutional development and law; institutions of government; political parties, elections, and voting behavior; the significance of interest groups divided along race, gender, class, or other lines; and the role of the media and public opinion.  Comparisons with other political systems and generalizations are applied to several policy issues.

Required Text:
Coming soon.

First-Day Assignment(s):
Read Chapter 1.

AMERICA & THE WORLD (3 cr.)
21:790:202:W1:99220
January 2-18, 2008
MTWTh 12:00-4:30
Course also meets on Friday, January 4.
MULLAN          CONKLIN 348

Basics of international relations (sources of national power, sovereignty, security, international law and organization, international economics), and factors (historical, political, economic, social, governmental) in the formation of American foreign policy. Extensive attention to current problems.

Required Text(s):
•Johnson, C., 2004. The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the  Republic. ISBN# 0805077979.
•Rubin, B. and Rubin, J.C., 2005. Hating America: A History. ISBN# 019530649x
•Gelernter, D., 2007. Americanism: The Fourth Great Western Religion. ISBN#  0385513127.

Required Reading(s):
Course readings assigned will be available online.

First-Day Assignment:
•Crevecoeur, Letter III, "What is an American?" from Letters from an American Farmer,
  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/CREV/home.html.
•Tocqueville, excerpts from Democracy in America, Chapter X, "Why the Americans Are   More Addicted to Practical Than to Theoretical Science."
  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/DETOC/ch1_10.htm.

INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS (3 cr.)
62:790:203:W6:99221  (CANCELLED)
January 2-18, 2008
MTWTh 5:00-9:30
Course also meets on Friday, January 4.
POONIA           HILL 104

Aspects of governement and politics of several countries; introduces students to the techniques of comparative analysis; democratic, totalitarian, and developing political sytems.

Required Text:
Magstadt, Thomas M. (2008). Nations and Governments — Comparative Politics in Regional Perspective. Wadsworth/Thomas Learning, Belmont. ISBN# 0534631231.

Required Readings:
•Dogan, Mattei, and Dominique Pelassy. How to Compare Nations: Strategies in  Comparative Politics.
•Wiarda, Howard J. (1999). Introduction to Comparative Politics: Concepts &  Processes. Wadsworth/Thomas Learning,   Belmont.

First-Day Assignment(s):
Read Magstadt Chapter 1.
Ethnocentrism, The Logic of Regional Comparisons.
Scientific Inquiry: The Comparative Method.

TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE: MASS MEDIA & POLITICS (3 cr.)
21:790:461:W3:99223
January 2-18, 2008
ONLINE COURSE
SAUNDERS

This course provides a comprehensive survey of mass media's role in politics and the impact of the political environment on the press. It investigates the major media platforms (print, radio, television, and the Internet) and how each shape political culture. While the scope of the course is global, much attention is paid to the American media landscape. Other regions to be covered include the former Soviet Union, the Arab World, East Asia, and Europe. Special topics to be explored include: news management, transnational media empires, the CNN Effect, infotainment, "fake news," the mass-mediation of terrorism, and Al-Jazeera.