Political Science: Political Corruption

Examines varied topics concerning comparative politics in a seminar format. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: POLS 1700 or POLS 1017; three hours of Political Science at the 2000-level.

Prerequisite enforced by the system: POLS 1700 or POLS 1017; three hours of Political Science at the 2000-level; Minimum Junior standing. PACE students with permission and override.

While studies of political corruption used to be limited to developing countries, a wave of scandals struck many of the world’s established democracies in the 1980s and 1990s in such places as Italy, Japan, Spain, Britain, Germany, Belgium, France, Greece, and Australia. As a consequence, it is now clear that the problem of corruption can be particularly severe for established democracies. This seminar will focus on the study of political corruption and scandals by examining broader theoretical debates within the field of comparative politics as well as by looking at specific country examples. Corruption is an activity cloaked in secrecy. Sometimes one of the only ways to study corruption is to focus on whatever happens to be revealed by corruption scandals reported in the mass media. We will examine the causes and consequences of political scandals as one way to study political corruption. The inspiration for this seminar is based upon the professor’s research into political corruption and scandals in postwar Japan as well as thinking about the ways that political corruption affects other established democracies as well as all countries in the world. I plan on focusing many weeks of the course on larger theoretical issues in the study of corruption in many corners of the world. I will also devote considerable time to the topic of political corruption scandals. We may read in-depth about the case of postwar Japan but my goals are to discuss a broad range of cases as corruption and scandals are commonplace everywhere.

This course may combine discussion with some short lecture format and where possible the viewing of relevant media materials. Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours a week on coursework outside of class, with additional time for writing assignments. Note: Most of the required readings for this course will be posted on Brightspace. If I require a specific book for you to purchase, I will email or let you know during the first week so that you can order it online.

Grades will be based on a combination of papers, homework, reading tests, and attendance and participation.