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Political Science could be divided into the following subfields: American politics, comparative politics International relations, political theory, Political methodology, public policy, public administration, and public law. This course will on Lebanese politics instead of American politics,.
Lebanese nation-state, the structure and systems of governments, and the crisis of nation building, revolution, and violence. Learning Outcomes: Understand the major Theories in Political Science at the State and the International Levels. Understand the main elements of the nation-state and the crisis of nation-building Differentiate and correlate the concepts of Legitimacy, Sovereignty and Authority. Apply the theoretical frameworks of Politics to real life case studies.
Prerequisites: This course has no prerequisites. It is however recommended for Students who already took PHIL200 Introduction to Philosophy, and PHIL 205 Introduction to Ethics Required Readings: Instructor will provide students with a course kit POLS Introduction to Political Science. The Kit will be available at the Copy Center. Instructor PowerPoint Presentations will be posted on Abir Chaaban Presentations on Line and will be e-mailed upon request. Required readings are selected from the following textbooks Cobban, Helena. The Making of Modern Lebanon. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1985. Curtis, Michael ed, The Great Political Theories: From the French Revolution to Modern Times, ( New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 2008). Kaufman, Asher. Reviving Phoenicia: The Search for Identity in Lebanon. (London: I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd., 2004). El Khazen Farid, The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon 1967-1976. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2000). Kindred, Hugh M., Karen Mickelson, Rene Provost, Linda C. Reif, Ted L. McDorman, Armand L.C. deMestral, and Sharon A. Williams. International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied in Canada. (Toronto: Edmond Montgomery Publications, Ltd., 2002).
Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2006). Picard, Elizabeth. Lebanon a Shattered Country. (New York: Holmes & Meier, 2002). Pojman, Louis P., Lewiss Vaughn, Philosophy the Quest for Truth, Seventh ed. (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009). Rotberg, Robert I., ed. State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2003. Russett, Bruce, Haervey Starr and David Kinsella, World Politics: The Menue for Choice, International Edition (Boston: Wadsworth 2010). Course Evaluation Participation/Discussions/Debates/Assignments Midterm Research Paper /Presentation Final Exam 20% 20% 25% 35%
Research paper: The research paper is a case study related to a contemporary political issue within the Middle East and/or Lebanon of the students choice. All students are expected to follow the term paper schedule. Schedule will published by the instructor by the end of week four of the course. The term paper must be organized around a thesis and a coherent outline. both must be approved by the instructor. Each student will present their paper on the last week of classes. Participation/Discussions/Debates: At the end of each lecture, discussion topics are given in class. The student will prepare for the next session discussion. Discussion Points are to be posted on the class group on Facebook before the next class. Exams: Exams will test the students on the terms discussed, and information studied in class. Students will be given study questions prior to the exam. Extensions: There will be no extensions for term paper except for illness or severe personal extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, twenty per cent will be deducted from your mark for each day, including weekends and holidays. Plagiarism: Ensure that you have acquainted your self with LIU regulations of plagiarism. All plagiarized papers will be awarded an F grade. Course Schedule:
Week
Readings
Part One: Concepts, Theories and Global Systems One Introduction to Course Syllabus Is Politics a Science Key Concepts: Legitimacy, Sovereignty, Authority Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2006). Chapter I
Pojman, Louis P., Lewiss Vaughn, Philosophy the Quest for Truth, Seventh ed. (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009 Chapter VII Curtis, Michael ed, The Great Political Theories: From the French Revolution to Modern Times, ( New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 2008). Section I.
World Politics The Interstate System The Concept of Sovereignty Are States all equal The Concept of International Legitimacy
Russett, Bruce, Haervey Starr and David Kinsella, World Politics: The Menue for Choice, International Edition (Boston: Wadsworth 2010). Chapter 2 and 3
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Midterm Exam
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Theories of Political Science Vs. Political Ideologies Political Ideologies in Lebanon The Elements of Nationhood The Making of the State of Lebanon Political Party and Party System Is Lebanon a Party System The Lebanese Confessional System The National Pact
Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Discussions and Debates Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition 36-41 Picard, Elizabeth. Lebanon a Shattered Country. New York: Holmes & Meier, 2002. 23-35
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Individuals and Constitutions Comparison between The Constitution of Lebanon, the United States, and France Democracy, Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism Is Lebanon a Democracy Paper Discussion The Crises of Nation Building
Instructor Handout Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Curtis, Michael ed, The Great Political Theories: From the French Revolution to Modern
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The Crises of Nation Building Case Study the Collapse of the Lebanese Government 1975 Violence and Revolution
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Revisiting the Concepts of Legitimacy, Sovereignty and Authority Case studies, the Case of Egypt, the case of Libya, The Case of Syria and the Case of Iraq
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Paper Presentations