This course is a graduate-level course of Political Systems of developing countries. This course provides an overview of the politics and economics of the developing world. It aims to familiarize students with theories about why countries have different levels of economic development and different political systems and about the consequences of such variation. Examples would be drawn from the pool of developing and middle-income countries in Asia. The course uses the comparative method: It considers hypotheses about why particular countries and governments look and act the way they do and then use empirical evidence from India and Iran to evaluate that hypotheses. 

Intended Course Learning Outcomes (ICLOs):

In successfully completing this course, students will;

• Gain knowledge about the patterns of the political system and political development in developing countries
• Able to develop a theoretical outlook for comparative analysis of different developing states
• Have a better understanding of the political systems of Iran and India

Assessment Criteria:

• Attendance and Class Participation: 10 %
• 75% of attendance would be mandatory to take the final term exams. Students are encouraged to participate in class discussion and ask questions. Students are expected to come to class well prepared, having read the assigned reading for each class. Please come to class on time. Habitually coming to class late will be penalized. Cell phones must be turned off. If your phone rings in class on more than one occasion, I will ask you to leave class.
•  Presentation and Assignments: 8%
•  Quiz: 2%
•  Mid Term Examination: 30%
•  Final Term  Examination: 50%

Class Days and Timings 

• Wednesday (11:00 - 12:30)
• Thursday     (11:00 - 12:30)

Recommended Books:

• Mitra Subrata, “Politics in India: Structure, Process and Policy,” (London: Routledge: 2017).
• Ali Gheissari, “Contemporary Iran: Economy, Society and Politics,” (London: Oxford University Press: 2009).
• B.C. Smith, “Understanding Third World Politics Theories of Political Change and Development,” (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003).
• Peter Calvert and Susan Calver, “Politics and Society in the Developing World,” (New York: Pearson, 2007).