AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Comparative Governments

& Politics

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Things to consider when analyzing a

country:

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Country A country is a region identified as a distinct

entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign

or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with sets of

previously independent or differently associated peoples with distinct political

characteristics. Wikipedia

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

1. History 2. Institutions 3. Political Culture 4. Patterns of Interaction 5. Quarrels (long term political issues)

Through the filters of Nationalism & Ideology.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Ideology

Belief system to improve society. Ideology is a set of conscious and/or unconscious ideas which constitute one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology is a comprehensive normative vision, a way of looking at things. Wikipedia

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Nationalism

Nationalism is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one's nation. Nationalism involves national identity, by contrast with the related construct of patriotism, which involves the social conditioning and personal behaviors that support a state's decisions and actions.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

History

The whole series of past events connected with someone or

something. Oxford Dictionary

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Institutions

Established rules and relationships of power.

Ex. Political, Economic, Social, Educational, Cultural, Military/Security,

etc…

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Political Culture

Values and attitudes of citizens on politics and society.

As defined by the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences: "the set of attitudes, beliefs and sentiments that

give order and meaning to a political process and which provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern

behavior in the political system".

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Political Culture

“Political Culture is the product of both the collective history of a political system and

the life histories of the members of the system and thus it is rooted equally in public events and private experience.”

International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Patterns of Interaction

How the game is played.

How the country and its institutions interact internally (domestically) and

externally (internationally).

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Quarrels

As used here: important, long-term political issues.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

1. Iran 2. China 3. Nigeria 4. United Kingdom 5. Russia 6. Mexico

The Six Countries Studied

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Country Analysis

• Profile Overview (Group/Class)

Utilizing the Georgia Virtual School AP Comparative Government Resources & Other Sources

• General S.W.O.T. Analysis (Group/Class)

• Forecast Future Issues/Challenges (Group Project)

• Positional Response (Individual Project)

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Profile Overview

We will look at country profiles and information from various sources in order to create a basis from which to establish a basic overview and understanding of the six (6) countries

being studied.

We will do this through class and group discussions.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Discussion Rules

All class and group discussions will be objective, fact based/substantiated discussions with any opinions or

personal positions requiring fact-based support and must be relevant/applicable to the overall country discussion.

No unsubstantiated or shallow “drive by grenades” are allowed. All discussions and opinions are welcome as long as they are relevant, applicable, and substantiated…using the

3P’s of Information as a guide.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

S.W.O.T. Traditionally used in analyzing companies. We are

Going to modify it and use the SWOT concept to look at the six countries we are studying.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

STRENGTHS

Characteristics and/or elements of the country that give it an advantage over others or things that the country does

well. (Internal)

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

WEAKNESSES

Characteristics and/or elements that place the country at a disadvantage

relative to others or that the country does NOT do well. (Internal)

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

OPPORTUNITIES

Elements that the country could exploit to its advantage or capitalize on in the global environment and marketplace.

(External)

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

THREATS

Elements in the global environment that could cause trouble for the

country. (External and out of the country’s

control.)

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Group Project

Provide a very general and basic profile and SWOT analysis using a modified SWOT approach. The framework for both will be provided. Groups will use the information provided in class as well as research on done outside of class to form a hypothesis and project what they believe will be the country’s greatest challenge over the next 5 years. The issue will have to presented on a national scale and supported by

sound factual evidence and substantiated assertions. The issue can be related to the economy, national security, domestic issues, etc…

The group’s brief class presentation will be to present their assertions. The grading framework will be provided as well as it will

be focused more on a completion and “adherence to the instructions” basis.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy

Individual Project

Each student will provide their position, via essay, either supporting or refuting the five groups’ assertions and why. Students will have the

option to provide a comment or section on their position regarding their own group’s assertion. The overall goal is for the students to be able to formulate a group position and then formulate an individual position

based on what was presented to them.

As with the group presentations and assertions, the individual positions must be presented on a national scale and supported by

sound factual evidence and substantiated assertions.

AP Comparative Government

Mr. Searcy