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