This class is an introductory course to West European politics.  It is
designed to introduce you to a variety of different aspects of European
nations which may initially appear alien to you.  We will cover such
aspects as political culture, political parties, interest groups,
political institutions, European integration, and new social movements.
The goals of this class are threefold.  First, you should learn in some
detail about three countries which we will focus on: France, Germany, and
Great Britain.  Secondly, you should learn to evaluate some important
theories about politics.  And last, you should learn to think rigorously
and comparatively about politics.  Comparative thinking is an extremely
useful analytical tool and we will frequently employ this method in the
course to demonstrate its utility.

The required readings are drawn from four books which cover the three
countries.  The reading load averages about 100 pages a week.  Course
requirements include a midterm exam, a final exam, and a term paper.
Exams typically consist of a combination of several identifications and a
longer essay question.