POL 190 Introduction to Comparative Politics

Instruction

POL 190 Introduction to Comparative Politics

 

Department of Political Science

 

University of Michigan-Flint

 

Winter 2019

 

FINAL ESSAY EXAM

 

General Instructions:

 

Complete TWO Questions: one from PART A, and one from PART B

 

Format: Essays must be double-spaced; Use 12 point fonts; Use 1-inch margins. Add a separate title page with your name. Staple the essay: do not use folders, plastic sleeves, etc.

 

Each essay should be not less than 5 double spaced pages

 

Answer each question completely: all parts of each question are equally important. Answer each essay question in separate essays: do not combine your responses into one essay

 

Use all of the relevant readings/course material: Drogus/Orvis, articles, notes. DO NOT use material from any other source: use ONLY the material assigned/required for this course.

 

Provide author/page citations to demonstrate your familiarity with the assigned readings. Use the system of citation with which you are most familiar

 

DO NOT use other sources of information that are not assigned for this course. Plagiarism, copying and pasting material from the web, duplicating the work of another student or any other kind of cheating will result in a failing grade.

 

This assignment is worth 25% of the total grade (12.5% of each essay)

 

DUE DATE/TIME: 5:00pm MONDAY 22 December, VIA the BLACKBOARD Assignment Link

 

PART A: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. Do ONE Question from this Section

 

1.  Use a comparison of India and Brazil to compare and contrast the parliamentary and presidential systems of government. a) What factors affect the power of the executives (prime minister and president) in each country? b) How are elected officials held accountable in each country, and how do differences in the number of veto points affect the process and outcomes of policy making? C) What have been the unique challenges facing the presidential and parliamentary systems in Indian and Brazil?

 

2.  Election rules explain a range of important political outcomes. a) Describe the main elements of the

 

‘simple majority/first past the post’ and ‘proportional representation’ election systems. b) Use the cases of the UK and Brazil in order to compare and contrast the effects (both positive and negative) of the election system in each country. c) What would be the pros and cons of adopting either one of these election systems in a newly democratic country that has a history of dictatorship, inequality and ethnic division?

 

PART B: POLITICAL ECONOMY. Do ONE Question from this Section

 

3.  Types of political economy systems (e.g. welfare states, liberal market economies, and developmental states) have different approaches to basic economic problems like taxes, spending, trade and regulation. a) What are the pros and cons of the ‘welfare state’ vs. the ‘developmental state’ approaches to economic policy? b) Compare and contrast the economic policies of Germany and Japan and identify their main differences. c) What are the basic features of health and social policies in these three countries, and how/why have these policies changed over time?

 

4.  Globalization has transformed economic and political relationships over the last 40 years. a) Describe and explain the main elements in the process of globalization. b) Identify the main policies undertaken in China and India in order to respond to the challenge of globalization. c) What has been the effects (positive and negative) of globalization on the economies of each country, and what obstacles stand in the way of continued growth and development?

 

PART C: OPTIONAL EXTRA Question: Students may elect to complete the questions below. This is in addition to the two questions for Part A and B (The Part C Optional Question does not replace the need to complete the other questions on the Final Exam). This optional essay is worth 12.5%. The grade for this extra question will be used if you missed the midterm essay. The grade for the Optional Extra question may also be used to replace a lower grade for the midterm essay (a lower grade will be dropped and replaced with a higher grade for the optional extra question).

 

5.  Federalism: Federalism has been implemented in a wide range of countries, with differing results. a) What are the main similarities and differences in the way that federalism operates in India, Russia and Brazil? b) What are the pros and cons of introducing a federal system in a newly democratic developing country?

Solution 

 POL 190 Introduction to Comparative Politics Department of Political Science University of Michigan-Flint Winter 2019 

FINAL ESSAY EXAM 

General Instructions: 

• Complete TWO Questions: one from PART A, and one from PART B 

• Format: Essays must be double-spaced; Use 12 point fonts; Use 1-inch margins. Add a separate title page with your name. Staple the essay: do not use folders, plastic sleeves, etc. 

• Each essay should be not less than 5 double spaced pages 

• Answer each question completely: all parts of each question are equally important. Answer each essay question in separate essays: do not combine your responses into one essay 

• Use all of the relevant readings/course material: Drogus/Orvis, articles, notes. DO NOT use material from any other source: use ONLY the material assigned/required for this course. 

• Provide author/page citations to demonstrate your familiarity with the assigned readings. Use the system of citation with which you are most familiar 

• DO NOT use other sources of information that are not assigned for this course. Plagiarism, copying and pasting material from the web, duplicating the work of another student or any other kind of cheating will result in a failing grade. 

• This assignment is worth 25% of the total grade (12.5% of each essay) 

• DUE DATE/TIME: 5:00pm MONDAY 22 December, VIA the BLACKBOARD Assignment Link 

PART A: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. Do ONE Question from this Section 

1. Use a comparison of India and Brazil to compare and contrast the parliamentary and presidential systems of government. a) What factors affect the power of the executives (prime minister and president) in each country? b) How are elected officials held accountable in each country, and how do differences in the number of veto points affect the process and outcomes of policy making? C) What have been the unique challenges facing the presidential and parliamentary systems in Indian and Brazil? 

2. Election rules explain a range of important political outcomes. a) Describe the main elements of the ‘simple majority/first past the post’ and ‘proportional representation’ election systems. b) Use the cases of the UK and Brazil in order to compare and contrast the effects (both positive and negative) of the election system in each country. c) What would be the pros and cons of adopting either one of these election systems in a newly democratic country that has a history of dictatorship, inequality and ethnic division? 

PART B: POLITICAL ECONOMY. Do ONE Question from this Section 

3. Types of political economy systems (e.g. welfare states, liberal market economies, and developmental states) have different approaches to basic economic problems like taxes, spending, trade and regulation. a) What are the pros and cons of the ‘welfare state’ vs. the ‘developmental state’ approaches to economic policy? b) Compare and contrast the economic policies of Germany and Japan and identify their main differences. c) What are the basic features of health and social policies in these three countries, and how/why have these policies changed over time? 

4. Globalization has transformed economic and political relationships over the last 40 years. a) Describe and explain the main elements in the process of globalization. b) Identify the main policies undertaken in China and India in order to respond to the challenge of globalization. c) What has been the effects (positive and negative) of globalization on the economies of each country, and what obstacles stand in the way of continued growth and development? 

PART C: OPTIONAL EXTRA Question: Students may elect to complete the questions below. This is in addition to the two questions for Part A and B (The Part C Optional Question does not replace the need to complete the other questions on the Final Exam). This optional essay is worth 12.5%. The grade for this extra question will be used if you missed the midterm essay. The grade for the Optional Extra question may also be used to replace a lower grade for the midterm essay (a lower grade will be dropped and replaced with a higher grade for the optional extra question). 

5. Federalism: Federalism has been implemented in a wide range of countries, with differing results. a) What are the main similarities and differences in the way that federalism operates in India, Russia and Brazil? b) What are the pros and cons of introducing a federal system in a newly democratic developing country?