Introduction to Comparative Politics

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Professor Keita Omi

About Course: This course introduces you to comparative politics, one of the six subfields (National Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Administration, and Methodology) in political science. As a field of study, comparative politics focuses on similarities and differences in political interests, institutions, and interactions among individuals, societies, and states. The field, therefore, encompasses a diverse array of topics, from political and economic development to civil wars and political violence, and from democratization to authoritarian regimes. In this course, we explore the key concepts, issues, and processes of comparative politics through the writings of some of the most influential and important scholars in the field. Through our consideration of their work, we develop the general knowledge and analytic tools necessary to understand, evaluate, and respond to a complex array of problems in comparative manners.