PSI 104 POLITICAL SCIENCE II
(2024 Spring Semester)
Prof. Dr. Tanel Demirel
Department of Political Science and International Relations, Çankaya University
AIM
This course aims to acquaint students with the essential political ideologies. It also discuss the basic political institutions and political processes in democratic regimes. In so doing, it purports to develop students’ analytical capabilities as well as familiarizing them with critical thinking.
As such PSI 104 supplements PSI 103 (Political Science I).
COURSE MATERIAL
There is no single textbook to be advised. You MUST READ “Keynotes” for PSI 104. If you were to follow only one textbook it should be Andrew Heywood, Politics, fifth edition New York, Macmillan, 2019. I advise you to look at Heywood’s Key Concepts in Politics and International Relations (2015) as well. Both books are also avaliable in Turkish. Following are some of helpful texts that you might also consult; Thomas M. Magstadt, Understanding Politics-Ideas, Institutions, and Issues, eight edition, Wadsworth, Belmont, 2009); Roskin, M. G and R. L. Cord, Political Science: An Introduction, 12th edition (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2012) (JA 71.P625); Gökhan Atılgan and E. Attila Aytekin’s Siyaset Bilimi –Kavramlar, Ä°deolojiler, Disiplinler Arası Ä°liÅŸkiler, (Ankara, Yordam, 2014) is also a useful book.
COURSE EVALUATION
There will be one mid-term (40 p) a final exam (60 p).
COURSE OUTLINE
LIBERALISM AS “THE” CENTRAL IDEOLOGY OF THE “MODERN” TIMES (3 weeks)
“MODERATE” CRITIQUES OF LIBERALISM (3 weeks)
Critiques by Democrats
Nationalist Critiques
Republican Critiques
Conservatism and Communitarianism
Identity Based Critiques – Feminism and Multiculturalism
“RADICAL” CRITIQUES OF LIBERALISM (2 weeks)
Religious Fundamentalisms
Fascism and Racism
Radical Marxist Critiques
LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC REGIMES IN PRACTICE: INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES (5 weeks)
Unitary State vs Federal State
Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
Presidential and Parliamentary Systems of Government
Political Parties and Interest Groups
Public Opinion and Media
Keeping Civil and Military Bureaucracy under Control