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Occasionally illustrations of political institutions and policy issues in other countries will also be used. The approach to the course emphasizes the impact of history, culture, government structures, and economic change on political processes. Six themes tie the material together: a. the endurance of traditional cultures and their impact
on contemporary politics;
One goal of the course is to impart information about political institutions and processes in three Asian countries. An equally important goal is to develop analytical skills to aid in the process of comparison, which may be viewed as a methodological approach. Comparison not only illuminates the significance of specific features of Asian politics, but helps us better understand the unique features of American politics and those characteristics which we share with other political systems. Finally, every effort will be made throughout the course to be aware
of issues pertaining to the cultural and intellectual lenses through which
we study and understand the politics of the three "giants" of south and
east Asia.
The required reading includes news sources, three books, and a special journal issue on China. One book is a comparative text covering India, China, and Japan; the second book is on Japan, and the third on India. The books may be purchased at the CSU bookstore. In the Realm of a Dying Emperor and Comparing Asian Politics (see below) are on reserve in the library; the Current History journal is available in most libraries. There will also be films for required viewing. The texts are as follows: Charlton, S.E. Comparing Asian Politics: India, China, and Japan.
(Boulder: Westview Press, 1997)
There will be a mid-term and final examination. Both exams will
emphasize material from Charlton, Comparing Asian Politics, and covered
in class. The exams will be essay and short answer or identification
(study guides will be available before the exams).
Four essays are also required. The essays are designed to build on, but go beyond, the required reading. The various options for the essays will be discussed further in class, but they include comparison, linkage to other issues or current events, and films. Each essay should be typed, double-spaced and include a complete bibliography of all sources consulted, including material from the internet. Note: References will be "spot-checked" for accuracy. You should keep a copy of your papers, but submit the original; please also keep all reference materials, notes, etc. that you used in preparing your paper. Plagiarism or falsification of references will result in a grade of F for the assignment. An automatic penalty of 5 points per calendar day is assessed for late papers. The essays emphasize different elements of the course: 1) Discussion of contemporary political issues from news sources. 3-4 pages; due January 31. This will include a web site analysis (see sheet attached to syllabus). 2) Analysis of a theme or problem in Japanese politics, drawing on issues raised in the book by Norma Field (see above). 4-5 pages; due February 14. 3) Analysis of a theme or problem in Indian politics, drawing on issues raised in the book by Gita Mehta (see above). 4-5 pages; due March 30. 4) The final essay will be a comparison of either Japan and China or India and China. 6-8 pages; due May 4.
Although there will be formal lectures in the course, many of the classes will be structured around student participation: questions and answers, discussions, and presentations. Some participation may be through the webct portion of the course, and it is expected that each student will make at least one oral presentation. This means the emphasis will be on active rather than passive involvement in the course. Courtesy, promptness, and regular attendance are all part of the expectations. Attendance will be taken. If you are unable to get to class on time (or at all), you are expected to call BEFORE the class and leave a message on the instructor's voice mail. Unexcused absences will result in a lowered final grade.
The intitial determinant of the final grade will be the percentage of the total points possible earned on the various assignments. Grades for the written material will constitute approximately 85 percent of the course grade. This grade will be modified by your contributions to the vitality of the class, as determined by participation. The points will be distributed as follows: Mid-term
75 points
[90% and above = A; 80% and above = B; 70% and above =
C, etc.]
BIBLIOGRAPHIES, CITATIONS, AND WEB SITE ANALYSIS Reminders 1. Keep a copy of your paper and all reference materials used. 2. Citations and references will be “spot-checked”. 3. The length shown is a guideline. Papers that are a little shorter or longer are not penalized if the content is good. 4. Papers should be carefully proofread for grammar, sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation before submitting, as quality of writing will be a factor in the grading process. 5. Type and double-space your papers. 6. Late papers are assessed a penalty of 5 points per day. Bibliographies and Citations Note that the fundamental purpose of citations and bibliographies is to permit others to “track” your research. Therefore, it is important to be accurate. 1. Each paper should include a list of references or bibliography, which includes all sources consulted. 2. Alphabetize references by the author’s last name or, if no author is shown, by the first word of the title (omitting “a”, “and” and “the”). Your papers (especially the fourth comparative essay) should draw on a variety of sources. 3. Footnotes, in-text citations, or endnotes are all acceptable for citing specific references, including direct quotes, borrowed interpretations, unusual or little-known facts, etc. Just be consistent. If you use an in-text citation, cite by the author’s last name, or if necessary, by a short version of the title, AND page numbers. Example: (Field, p. 32) 4. Sources from the internet MUST include the complete author, title, publication, etc., of the document used AND the complete web site address. Include the date accessed at the end of the citation. If you have any questions about these guidelines or what form to use, please see me. Web Site Analysis The last page of the first essay is your assessment of a web site that you consulted in researching and writing the essay. The site must be based in Asia, dealing with Asian politics, at least in part. Options include sites maintained by governments, international organizations, newspapers and magazines, and NGOs (nongovernmental organizations). Given the nature of this first assignment, you will likely use a news source, but you may also use other web sites for background or to broaden your perspective. Some examples are found below. Your analysis must include the following parts, in this order: I. Complete address and dates accessed. II. An explanation of how the site was located and why you used it. III. A general description of the type of information it contains, and an explanation of who maintains it and how often it is updated. IV. A description of the bias of the site.
V. A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the site in comparison
to others you have used.
Examples of Appropriate Web Sites (There are many others!)
www.timesofindia.com Times of India www.feer.com Far Eastern Economic Review www.Sansad.com Indian Parliament www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng Foreign Ministry of the PRC (English) www.chinadaily.com.cn China Daily www.japantimes.co.jp Japan Times www.jda.go.jp Japan - Defense Agency For more information on the instructor, go to:
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