Political Science 166                           Dr. Sanders
Spring 1998                                     Meredith 212
                                                x3172
                                                e-mail: AS2941R@acad.drake.edu
                                                send mail to Professor Sanders

Comparative Political Parties

and Interest Groups

COURSE REQUIREMENTS READINGS ASSIGNMENTS

COURSE:

This course is designed to examine the role that political parties and interest groups play (or should play) in Western democracies. We will be looking, therefore, at the role of citizen organizations in democratic societies. Democracy is rule by the people. But translating what the people want into governmental action (or inaction) is not easily done. We cannot have millions of people engaged in writing laws. We need to delegate responsibility to our elected officials. But in order to make ourselves heard to these officials, we need to organize. And historically, two different, though related, types of organizations have arisen to try and serve as a bridge between "the people" and the government - political parties and interest groups. Democracy needs them. But we also are concerned that they will distort or hinder our democracy. In this class we will explore how these organizations operate, their role in the electoral process and how they attempt to influence policy. We will evaluate the ways in which they help promote the process of democratic government, and they ways in which they interfere with these processes.

This course will, hopefully, be a joint venture with you participating and taking an active role. If you come to class prepared, raise questions, discuss the issues and think critically about the topics we discuss, both you and I will enjoy the course much more. If you sit in class, take notes and skim the readings on occasion, you will be bored (and so will I!). There is no more central topic in a democratic society than how we organize ourselves to meet the political challenges we face. I hope you find this exploration as fascinating as I do, and I hope we can end the semester with a better understanding of the potentials and limitations of democracy.

For more information about other course offerings and policies of the Department of Political Science, see the Department's home page.

GO BACK TO TOP

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Preparation for, and participation in class discussions. All readings should be done by the time of the class for which they are assigned. Please note that at times we may seem to be "falling behind" the readings. This is, at least in part, by design. Unless I tell you otherwise, please keep up with the syllabus. We will catch up. Also, I will take attendance and I will call on people in class. (If you are not in class, I must assume you are not prepared). 10%.

2. Midterm Examination. 15%

3. You will write two short essays which will involve the analysis of public opinion data (one from Western Europe, the other from the United States) and its implications for political parties and party systems. I will spend at least two class periods in February going over how to get the data from the computer and how to analyze it. No training or background in statistical analysis is necessary for these assignments. But in the course of doing them, I will teach you something about such analysis (which is a useful skill to have. In the late twentieth century, with our increasing reliance on quantitative studies and research, it is almost impossible to read the newspaper or watch the news without reference to some study and their statistical findings. It is helpful to have some understanding of what goes into good quantitative research). Each of the essays will be worth 13% of the grade for a total of 26%.

4. On 6 different days during the class there will be a scheduled class discussion or debate. A more specific description of the topics for debate will be handed out one week before they occur. You are expected to come to class ready to discuss the topic for the day, and on three of the days you should come with a brief (approximately 3 to 5 page - though quality is much more important than quantity) written paper arguing for one of the positions in the debate. You may choose any three of the topics to write on that you wish, with the exception that at least one must be from the first three discussion topics and at least one must be from the final three topics. Absolutely no late papers will be accepted for this assignment. (For your other essays late papers will be accepted with a penalty of one letter grade for each class day they are late). If the essay is not handed in at the class on which the topic is discussed, you should write about a different topic. Also, should you choose to write on more than three of these topics, I will count the three highest grades. Each of the three written essays counts for 8% of your grade for a total of 24%. Finally, let me repeat, you are expected to be prepared to discuss the topic whether you write on it or not.

5. Final Exam. 25%

Go Back To Top

READINGS:

There are six books available for purchase at the bookstores. They are:
Mansbridge, Jane, Why We Lost the ERA
Pomper, Gerald, Passions & Interests

All other readings are on reserve at the library.

I also strongly urge you to read a daily newspaper to keep up with current affairs.

To do the two assignments listed in requirement #3, you will need to have a VAX computer account. If you do not have one, you should go to academic computing and ask them to set you up with a VAX account for your political science 166 class.

GO BACK TO TOP

ASSIGNMENTS:

I. Parties, Interest Groups and Democratic Theory:

January 21: Introduction
Pomper, chapter 1

II. Organizing the Public: Parties, Interest Groups and the Electoral Process:
Check out the Doonsebury Town Hall web site
February 13: Dalton, chapters 1,2
Check out the Gallup Organization web site.
Sundquist, Dynamics of the Party System, chapters 1,2,3 (library reserve)
Check out the Democratic and Republican Party web sites
For British political parties, check out the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democratic
Party Web Sites.
For German political parties check out the CDU, FDP or SPD web sites (please note these
sites are all in German)
As far as I know, none of the major political parties in France have web sites. (There are a
couple of minor parties with sites.) But you might check the French Politique site for
information about French politics. (This site is in French.)
February 25: Dalton, chapter 12
Paul Starr, "The Loophole We Can't Close" (library reserve)
Robert Kuttner, "Rescuing Democracy From Speech" (library reserve)
Robert Dreyfuss, "Harder Than Soft Money" (library reserve)
Alan Morrison,, "Watch What You Wish For" (library reserve)

III. Parties, Interest Groups and the Policy Process:
March 16: Heinz, et al., chapters 3,4,5
March 18: Heinz, et al., chapters 6,7
March 23,25, 27: Spring Break. Enjoy.
March 30: Heinz, chapter 8.
Graham Wilson, "American Interest Groups in Comparative Perspective" (library reserve)
April 10: Mansbridge, chapters 6,7,8
April 15: Mansbridge, chapters 13,14
April 27: Patterson, chapters 1,2
April 29: Patterson, chapter 3
Pomper, chapters 8,9

GO BACK TO TOP

Final Exam: Thursday, May 14. 7:30-9:20 am.