I.   How do we compare political systems?

A.  Similarity and Contrast

B.  Definition of terms:

1.  Politics

2.  Nation-State

3.  Political Institutions

4.  Political Economy

5.  Political Culture

6.  Political Legitimacy

II.  Why Compare Nation-States?

A.  Fighting ethnocentrism

B.  Why focus on nations?

1.  Collective personal identities

2.  States still relevant

C.  How we do it

1.  Middle-Level Theory

2.  Eastern Europe's March to Democracy

III.  Our Four Basic Themes

A.  A World of States

1.  Interaction within states

a.  Comparative Politics vs. International Relations

2.  State Formation

B.  Governing the Economy

1.  Political Economy

C.  The Democratic Ideal

1.  A few words on "democracies"

D.  The Politics of Collective Identity