A beginner's course to introduce students to the comparative study of government and politics around the world. Not a juxtaposition of political systems, but an analytical discussion of the holistic system as well as partial aspects of systems across countries. Topics may include classification of political systems; conceptualization of political functions and processes; working and performance of political institutions; role of political culture; systemic, institutional or cultural effects of public policies; issues of development and decay; and the national-international linkage. Students will be familiarized with the major contending approaches to theory construction in comparative politics.