Undergraduate Courses
Examination of the historical origins and development of democracy in a comparative perspective, with emphasis on major historical processes and contemporary debates. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Nationalism and nation-building in historical perspective. Ethnicity, national consciousness, and ethnic nationalism in an international and comparative framework. Prerequisite: POLS 101
The etymological, philosophical, scientific and historical origins of secularism. A survey of the contemporary political philosophical critiques of secularism. An evaluation of the relation between secularism and democracy. Prerequisite: POLS101
The structures and processes of politics in developing countries with special attention on the dynamics of regime changes. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Properties of various electoral systems in comparative perspective. Theory and practice of elections. Plurality systems, proportional systems. Prerequisite: POLS 101
The structures and political processes in Latin American countries with a focus on populism, revolution, authoritarianism, and democracy. Historical and theoretical examination of political change and economic development in the region.
Politics as seen through the lens of selected movie directors. Critical appraisal of classical and contemporary political films and of the main political issues projected to the screen. Exploration of the political and social relevance of cinema. Prerequisite: POLS101
A general introduction to histories, peoples and politics of the Middle East. Colonialism, imperialism, orientalism, state, institutions, popular culture, nationalism, democratization, political Islam, patriarchy, social movements. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Comparative analysis of political change and rapid economic development in East and Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Japan, China, and the East Asian NICs. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Theoretical perspectives on the politicization of gender, religion, ethnicity and locality. The construction of political identities in modern and postmodern socio-political culture, particularly in relation to key political concepts such as public sphere, state, law, nationality, citizenship and community. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Relationship between politics and territory. State boundaries, demographics, socioeconomic characteristics and activities. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Development of the modern state, the relationship of the state to society, with special emphasis on the nature of modern political institutions and processes. Prerequisites: POLS 101, SOC 101, SOC 108
This course examines local politics, government, and governance with specific focus on citizen participation from a comparative perspective. After introducing the main approaches and concepts regarding these issues, the course explores different forms and dynamics of political participation at the local level. Based on comparative analyses of specific cases, the conditions that facilitate and impede citizen participation are identified and critically evaluated. The course concludes with a general assessment of citizen participation and of the institutions specifically designed to enhance and deepen citizen participation in local politics and governance.
Examination of the relationship between law, politics and society, with emphasis on the social and political construction of law and crime. Leading theoretical perspectives and empirical research in the field. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Introduction to the organization, powers and operation of the administrative structure of government. Judicial review. Prerequisites: POLS 101, POLS 102
An interdisciplinary approach to the relationship between the constitution and the political system, political processes and judicial review of legislative acts. Case studies from the Turkish, Continental European, and Anglo-American contexts. Prerequisites: POLS 101, POLS 102
Political, sociological, anthropological and economic approaches to the status of religions in today's world. Secularism in the East and in the West. Comparative analysis of political, social, cultural, scientific, economic and gender issues involved in secularization and desecularization. Prerequisite: POLS 101
The global revolution in mass communication and its impact on political processes, cultural identity, national and global issues. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Impact of psychological, cultural and social structural factors on individual and mass behavior in political life, with emphasis on voting behavior. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Comparative analysis of the origins, functions and organizational characteristics of political parties and interest groups in different political systems. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Introduction to the theories and empirical findings on political cognition, attitudes, values and beliefs. Theories of political socialization, political action, and protest behavior. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Study of works of literature as sources for understanding. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Analysis of social and political problems leading to the collapse of the Weimar Republic, rise and fall of the Third Reich, the establishment of the Federal Republic, and German Unification. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Typologies of states and bureaucracies with particular emphasis on the relationship in different political systems. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Introduction to the theory of social movements. Case studies of old and new types of social movements in a comparative perspective. Worker, woman and immigrant movements. Prerequisite: POLS 101.
Exploring various dimensions and modalities of human deprivation and exclusion. Study of linkages between globalization and exclusion, various theories on marginality, poverty, informality and inequality, analysis of political solutions and strategies.
Problems and prospects of European economic and political integration. EU enlargement. Post-Maastricht developments and current debates. Prerequisite: POLS 101.
Theoretical foundations and historical development of human rights. Evolution of international human rights regimes and their impact on international and domestic politics. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Analysis of the relationship of Islam to politics. Islamist movements in theoretical and comparative perspective. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Theoretical exploration of gender and politics in the Middle East. Analysis of feminist criticism of basic concepts of politics related to the dynamics of politics in the region. Prerequisite: POLS 101
Advanced Seminar on selected topics in comparative politics. Prerequisites: POLS 101, POLS 215