Fall/Winter Timetable

POL2300H1S L0101

Comparative Politics of Industrial Societies

Themes

This course explores some of the main theoretical and empirical debates informing the analysis of the comparative politics. We will focus on alternative understandings of: (a) the relative importance of structure and agency in determining power; (b) the role of institutions, actors, and ideas in accounting for policy outcomes; and (c) the degrees of freedom enjoyed (or not) by policymakers in determining and implementing economic and social policy.
This course assists PhD. students to prepare for the qualifying examination required for those whose major field is the comparative politics of industrial societies. It also provides a comparative politics perspective for students whose major fields are Canadian Politics, International Relations, Public Policy, or Political Theory.