| ESSAYS/TERM PAPERS These essay topics and readings offer
suggestions which spring from the material in our book. We hope they will be of some use
to instructors preparing reading lists and to students engaged in independent study.
If you are a student taking a taught course, your assignments will of course be set by
your instructor.
In most cases, full references can be found in Hague and Harrop. Otherwise, full
references are provided here.
Chapter One - POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Chapter Two - DEMOCRACY
Chapter Three - AUTHORITARIAN
RULE
Chapter Four - THE STATE IN A
GLOBAL CONTEXT
Chapter Five - THE COMPARATIVE
APPROACH
Chapter Six - POLITICAL CULTURE
Chapter Seven - POLITICAL
COMMUNICATION
Chapter Eight - POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
Chapter Nine - ELECTIONS AND VOTERS
Chapter Ten - INTEREST GROUPS
Chapter Eleven - POLITICAL
PARTIES
Chapter Twelve - CONSTITUTIONS
AND THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Chapter Thirteen - FEDERAL,
UNITARY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Chapter Fourteen -
LEGISLATURES
Chapter Fifteen - THE
POLITICAL EXECUTIVE
Chapter Sixteen - THE
BUREAUCRACY
Chapter Seventeen - THE POLICY PROCESS
CHAPTER ONE POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
---------------------------------------------------------
a. In your view, is the essence of politics to be found in making public choices or
pursuing private interests?
b. Explore the concepts of, and connections between, power and authority.
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R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.1
H. Arendt, On Violence.
K. Boulding, Three Faces of Power.
B. Crick, In Defence of Politics.
R. Dahl, Modern Political Analysis.
M. Laver, Private Desires, Political Action (Thousand Oaks, Calif. and London: Sage,
1997).
S. Lukes, Power: A Radical View.
S. Lukes, ed., Power.
W. Shively, Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science.
E. Watt, Authority.
CHAPTER TWO DEMOCRACY
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a. 'The basic idea of democracy is self rule' (Hague and Harrop, p.16). What problems
have arisen in putting this principle into practice?
b. Is democracy best understood as an ideal or as a system of government?
-------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.2.
A. Arblaster, Democracy.
I. Budge, The New Challenge of Direct Democracy (Cambridge: Polity, 1996)
R. Dahl, Democracy and Its Critics.
L. Diamond and M. Platner, eds. The Global Resurgence of Democracy, part I.
A. Hadenius, ed., Democracy's Victory and Crisis, chs. 16 and 17.
D. Held, Models of Democracy.
D. Potter et al. eds., Democratization, Part I.
CHAPTER THREE AUTHORITARIAN RULE
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a. Does authoritarian rule have a future and if so why?
b. Is authoritarian rule preferable to democracy for developing countries?
------------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch. 3.
P. Brooker, Non-Democratic Regimes: Theory, Government and Politics.
J. Linz, Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes.
R. Jackson and C. Rosberg, Personal Rule in Black Africa: Prince, Autocrat, Prophet,
Tyrant.
C. Johnson, Japan: Who Governs? The Rise of the Developmental State.
H. Chebabi and J. Linz, eds, Sultanistic Regimes.
CHAPTER FOUR THE STATE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
------------------------------------------------------------
a. Assess the impact of either intergovernmental, or specifically regional,
organizations on states. How do you expect this influence to develop in the future?
b. Is the international community justified in intervening in the internal affairs of
states and, if so, in what cirumstances?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.4.
J. Bennett, International Organizations.
P. Cerny, The Changing Architecture of Politics.
A. Gamble and A. Payne, eds., Regionalism and World Order, chs. 2 and 8.
A. Hurrell,'Explaining the Resurgence of Regionalism in World Politics', Review of
International Studies 21 (1995) 331-58.
C. Kegley and E. Wittkopf, World Politics: Trend and Transformation.
F. Kratchowil and E. Mansfield, International Organization: A Reader, ch.1.
S. Strange, States and Markets.
N. Nugent, The Government and Politics of the European Union.
D. Held, Democracy and the Global Order.
S. Hoffman, ‘The Politics and Ethics of Military Intervention’, Survival 37
(1995) 29-51.
L. Weiss, The Myth of the Powerless State (Cambridge: Polity, 1998).
CHAPTER FIVE THE COMPARATIVE METHOD
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a. Is comparative politics best characterized by its content or its methods?
b. Should comparative politics focus on the institutions of government or the societies
in which they operate?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.5.
B. Guy Peters, Comparative Politics: Theory and Methods.
T. Janoski and A. Hicks, eds., The Comparative Political Economy of the Welfare State,
ch. by Ragin.
H. Keman, ed., Comparative Politics: New Directions in Theory and Method.
A. Lijphart, 'Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method,' American Political
Science Review 65 (1971) 682-93.
R. Rose, 'Comparing Forms of Comparative Analysis,' Political Studies 39 (1991) 446-62.
D. Rustow and K. Erickson, eds., Comparative Political Dynamics, ch. by Collier.
R. Goodin and H. Klingemann, eds., A New Handbook of Political Science, chs. by Mair
and by Ragin, Berg-Schlosser and de Meur.
G. King, R. Keohane and S. Verba, Designing Social Research.
B. Guy Peters, Institutional Theory in Political Science.
CHAPTER SIX POLITICAL CULTURE
---------------------------------------------------------
a. Explore the relationships between political culture, economic performance and
democratic stability.
b. 'The emphasis on economic achievement as the main priority is now giving way to an
increasing emphasis on the quality of life.' Ronald Inglehart, quoted in Hague and Harrop,
p. 82. Assess the validity and political implications of Inglehart's claim.
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.6 (also pp.28-30).
G. Almond and S. Verba, The Civic Culture.
G. Almond and S. Verba, eds., The Civic Culture Revisited.
S. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Making of World Order.
R. Inglehart, Modernization and Postmodernization.
R. Inglehart, Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society.
R. Inglehart, 'The Renaissance of Political Culture', American Political Science
Review, 82 (1988) 1203-30.
O. Knutsen, 'Materialist and Postmaterialist Values and Structures in the Nordic
Countries', Comparative Politics 23 (1990) 85-101.
S. Lipset, Political Man.
R. Luckham and G. White, eds., Democratization in the South, ch. by Moore.
G. Marks and L. Diamond, Reexamining Democracy: Essays in Honor of Seymour Martin
Lipset.
R. Putnam, Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy.
CHAPTER SEVEN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
------------------------------------------------------------
a. Assess the impact of the mass media on politics in the established democracies.
b. Compare and contrast the political impact of the internet with that of television.
------------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch. 7.
R. Williams, Communication.
C. Sunstein, Republic com.
D. Graber, Mass Media and American Politics.
H. Semetko,’The Media’ in Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in
Global Perspective, ed. L. LeDuc, R. Niemi and P. Norris.
J. Barber, The Pulse of Politics: Electing Presidents in a Media Age.
E. Kamarck and J. Nye, Democracy.com?
CHAPTER EIGHT POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
---------------------------------------------------------
a. 'The 'law of increasing disproportion' seems to apply to nearly every political
system; no matter how we measure political and social status, the higher the level of
political authority, the greater the representation for high-status social groups.' Robert
Putnam, quoted in Hague, Harrop and Breslin, p.82. Assess the validity of Putnam's view
and consider its implications for the legitimacy and effectiveness of government.
b. To what extent are quotas necessary and desirable as a means of increasing women's
representation in politics?
c. 'New politics provides a "people's challenge" to the iron triangles of
government, protective interest groups and mainstream parties.' Hague and Harrop, p.113.
Explore and assess.
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague, M. Harrop and S. Breslin, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.8.
R. Dalton and M. Kuechler, Challenging the Political Order.
A. Escobar and S. Alvarez, The Making of Social Movements in Latin America.
A. Hadenius, ed., Democracy's Victory and Crisis, ch.3.
J. Jaquette, 'Women in Power', Foreign Policy 108 (1997) 23-36.
L. Karvonen and P. Selle, eds., Women in Nordic Countries. (b) R. Putnam, The
Comparative Study of Political Elites.
L. LeDuc, R. NIemi and P. Norris, eds., Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in
Global Perspective, ch. 7.
L. Milbrath and M. Goel, Political Participation: How and Why Do People Get Involved in
Politics?
G. Parry, G. Moyser and N. Day, Political Participation and Democracy in Britain.
S. Tarrow, Power in Movement: Social Movements, Collective Action and Politics.
S. Verba, K. Scholzman and H. Brady, Voice and Equality: Civic Voluntarism in American
Politics.
R. Putnam, Bowlling Alone: The Collapse and Revivial of American Community.
CHAPTER NINE ELECTIONS, AND VOTERS
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a. 'The problem with PR today is not too little stability but too much, leading to
governance which offends no one and therefore achieves nothing.' (Hague and Harrop,
p.105). Discuss.
b. Explore the causes and consequences of partisan dealignment.
c. What solutions can comparative study offer to the growing problem of low electoral
turnout?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.9.
D. Farrell, Comparing Electoral Systems.
M. Franklin, T. Mackie and H. Valen, Electoral Change: Responses to Evolving Social and
Attiudinal Structures in Western Countries.
K. Jennings and T. Mann, eds., Elections at Home and Abroad, pp.93-122.
L. LeDuc, R. Niemi and P. Norris, eds. Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in
Global Perspective.
A. Lijphart, 'Unequal Participation: Democracy's Unresolved Dilemma', American
Political Science Review 91 (1997) 1-14.
W. Miller and J. Shanks, The New American Voter (Cambridge, Mass. and London: Harvard
University Press, 1996).
G. Pomper et al., The Election of 2000: Reports and Interpretations.
R. Dalton and M. Wattenberg, Politics without Partisans.
CHAPTER TEN INTEREST GROUPS
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a. Do interest groups help or hinder democracy?
b. How and why are the relationships between interest groups and governments changing?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.10.
R. Hrebenar and R. Scott, Interest Group Politics in America.
T. Lowi, The End of Liberalism.
D. Marsh and R. Rhodes, eds., Policy Networks in British Government.
M. Olson, The Rise and Decline of Nations.
M. Olson, The Logic of Collective Action: Pub;lic Goods and the Theory of Goods.
G. Peele et al. eds., Developments in American Politics 2, ch.5.
J. Richardson, ed., Pressure Groups.
M. Smith, Pressure Politics.
G. Wilson, Interest Groups.
C. Cigler and B. Loomis, eds., Interest Group Politics
CHAPTER ELEVEN POLITICAL PARTIES
---------------------------------------------------------
a. What is, and what should be, the role of the ordinary member in a modern political
party?
b. Why is party membership declining and what are the implications for the political
role of parties?
c. How and why does the organization and ideology of American parties differ from their
counterparts in Western Europe?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.11.
A. Downs, An Economic Theory of Democracy.
P. Mair, ed., The West European Party System.
R. Katz and P. Mair, eds., How Parties Organize.
R. Hazan, 'The 1996 Election in Israel: Adopting Party Primaries', Electoral Studies 16
(1997) 95-102.
J.-E. Lane and P. Pennings, eds., Comparing Party System Change (London and N.Y.:
Routledge).
L. Leduc , R. Niemi and P. Norris, eds., Comparing Democracy: Elections and Voting in
Global Perspective, chs. 3 and 4.
S. Wolinetz, ed., Political Parties.
A. Ware, Political Parties and Party Systems (Oxford and N.Y.: Oxford University Press,
1996).
L. Epstein, Political Parties in the American Mold.
P. Mair and I. van Biezen, ‘Party Membership in Europe, 1980-2000’, Party
Politics 2001 (7) 55-22.
CHAPTER TWELVE CONSTITUTIONS AND THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
---------------------------------------------------------
a. Does constitutional rule express or limit democracy?
b. What role does and should the judiciary play in democratic governance?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.12.
V. Bogdanor, ed., Constitutions in Democratic Politics.
Political Studies (1996), special issue on constitutionalism.
R. Dehousse, The European Court of Justice.
K. Holland, ed., Judicial Activism in Comparative Perspective.
H. Jacob et al., Courts, Law and Politics in Comparative Perspective (New Haven, Conn.
and London: Yale University Press, 1996).
D. O'Brien, Storm Center: The Supreme Court in Democratic Politics.
M. Rosenfeld, ed., Constitutionalism, Identity, Difference and Legitimacy.
C. Tate and T. Vallinder, eds., The Global Expansion of Judicial Power.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN FEDERAL, UNITARY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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a. An historical curio or a model of modern governance - which is the more accurate
judgment on federalism?
b. What lessons does the American experience with federalism offer to the development
of the European Union?
c. Has the strengthening of regional government within unitary states amount to
'quasi-federalism'?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.13.
M. Burgess and A. Gagnon, eds., Comparative Federalism and Federation.
D. Elazar, 'From Statism to Federalism', International Political Science Review 17
(1996) 417-30.
J. Hesse and V. Wright, eds., Federalizing Europe?
B. Jones and M. Keating, The European Union and the Regions.
G. Peele et al. eds., Developments in American Politics 2, ch. 10.
F. Rocher and M. Smith, eds., New Trends in Canadian Federalism.
L. Sharpe. ed., The Rise of Meso Government in Western Europe.
G. Smith, Federalism: The Multiethnic Challenge.
P. Le Galès and C. Lequesne, eds., Regions in Europe
CHAPTER FOURTEEN LEGISLATURES
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a. Is the role of legislatures declining or evolving?
b. 'A legislature is known by the committees it keeps.' (Kashyap, quoted in Hague,
Harrop and Breslin, p.187). Discuss.
c. Does federalism provide the only convincing argument for a bicameralism legislature?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.14.
R. Davidson, ed., The Postreform Congress.
F. Jacobs and R. Corbett, The European Parliament.
L. Longley and R. Davidson, eds., The New Roles of Parliamentary Committees
(publication 1998).
P. Norton, ed., Legislatures.
P. Norton, ed., Parliaments in Western Europe.
D. Olson, Legislative Institutions: A Comparative View.
D. Olson and P. Norton, eds., The New Parliaments of Central and Eastern Europe.
S. Patterson and A. Mughan, eds., Senates: Bicameralism in the Contemporary World.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN THE POLITICAL EXECUTIVE
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a. If you had to recommend either a presidential or a parliamentary executive for a new
democracy, which would you select and why? (Specify what additional information you would
want about the country concerned).
b. Is the semi-presidential executive a creative synthesis or a messy compromise
between presidential and parliamentary forms?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.15.
A. Agh, The Politics of Central Europe (Thousand Oaks, Calif. and London: Sage, 1998).
C. Campbell, The U.S. Presidency in Crisis (Oxford and N.Y.: Oxford, 1998).
M. Duverger, 'A New Political System Model: Semi-presidential Government', European
Journal of Political Research 8 (1980) 165-87.
R. Elgie, Political Leadership in Liberal Democracies.
C. Jones, The Presidency in a Separated System.
A. Lijphart, ed., Parliamentary versus Presidential Government.
J. Linz and A. Valenzuela, eds., The Failure of Presidential Democracy.
J. Linz, 'The Perils of Presidentialism', Journal of Democracy 1 (1990) 51-69.
S. Mainwaring and M. Shugart, 'Juan Linz, Presidentialism and Democracy: A Critical
Appraisal', Comparative Politics 29 (1997) 449-72.
R. Taras, ed., Postcommunist Presidents.
P. Weller, H. Bakvis and R. Rhodes, eds., The Hollow Crown.
R. Elgie, ed., Semi-Presidentialism in Europe.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN THE BUREAUCRACY
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a. To what extent, and by what means, should the bureaucracy be subject to political
control?
b. Compare the perspectives on bureaucracy offered by Weber and by advocates of the new
public management. Which model do you prefer and why?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.16.
J. Aberbach et al., Bureaucrats and Politicians.
H. Bekke, J. Perry and T. Toonen, Civil Service Systems in Comparative Perspective, ch.
by Hood.
J. Boston, ed., The State Under Contract
C. Campbell and G. Wilson, The End of Whitehall: Death of a Paradigm?
P. Dunleavy, Democracy, Bureaucracy and Public Choice (Hemel Hempstead: Harvester
Wheatsheaf).
F. Heady, Public Administration: A Comparative Perspective.
W. Kickert, ed., Public Management and Administrative Reform in Western Europe
(Cheltenham: Elgar, 1998).
J.-E.Lane, ed., Public Sector Reform: Rationale, Trends and Problems (Thousand Oaks,
Calif. and London: Sage, 1998).
D. Osborne and T. Gaebler, Reinventing Government.
E. Page, Political Authority and Bureaucratic Power: A Comparative Analysis.
B. Guy Peters, The Politics of Bureaucracy.
H. Seidman, Politics, Position and Power: The Dynamics of Federal Organization (Oxford
and N.Y.: Oxford, 1998).
E. Page and V. Wright, eds., Bureaucratic Elites in Western European States.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN THE POLICY PROCESS
---------------------------------------------------------
a. Compare the rational and incremental models of policy-making and suggest
circumstances under which each is more appropriate.
b. Why has the European welfare state been in retreat and what, if anything, will
replace it?
---------------------------------------------------------
R. Hague and M. Harrop and S. Breslin, Comparative Government and Politics, ch.7.
H. Simon, Reason in Human Affairs.
S. Barrett and C. Fudge, Policy and Action.
M. Bovens and P. Hart, Understanding Policy Fiascos.
P. Gray and P. t'Hart, eds., Public Policy Disasters in Europe (London and N.Y.:
Routledge, 1998).
B. Hogwood and L. Gunn, Policy Analysis for the Real World.
C. Lindblom, 'The Science of Muddling Through', Public Administration 19 (1959) 78-88.
C. Lindblom, 'Still Muddling: Not Yet Through' Public Administration Review 39 (1979)
517-26.
C. Lindblom, Politics and Markets.
T. Nas, Cost-Benefit Analysis: Theory and Application (Thousand Oaks, Calif. and
London: Sage, 1996).
W. Parsons, Public Policy.
J. Pressman and A. Wildavsky, Implementation (Berkeley, Calif.: University of
California Press, 1973).
P. Cerny, The Changing Architecture of Politics
C. Pierson, Beyond the Welfare State?
M. Moran, ‘The Rise of the Regulatory State in Britain,’ Parliamentary
Affairs 54 (2001) 19-34.
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