This course introduces students to the study of comparative politics, which is defined as the study of domestic politics in both developing and advanced industrial countries. Course topics include the relationship between capitalism, democracy, and economic development; the implications of political institutional choices (such as electoral systems); the politics of ethnic diversity and conflict; and the dynamics of political mobilization (including protest). The course also provides an introduction to the comparative method: using both “classics” and recent research as examples, we will explore how different scholars use cross-national and sub-national comparisons to gain insight into political dynamics.