AP Comparative Government and Politics is a course that focuses on examining theoretical models of the structure and functions of political systems, and focuses on an in-depth study of six specific countries as a close examination of these models and principles, allowing for comparison among them. The six countries of study include the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Britain, for short), the Russian Federation (Russia), the People’s Republic of China (China), the United Mexican States (Mexico), the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran), and the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria). Students will demonstrate their understanding of complex and diverse political systems by answering questions about general political themes, specific aspects about an individual country’s political system, and questions comparing one system to another, while applying disciplinary practices specific to political science. Specifically, the topics of study for the course and each country will include:
The course will also include study and practical application of the disciplinary practices used by political scientists in the field of comparative politics. These disciplinary practices will cover:
The end of the twentieth century brought a new reality to the modern world—globalization. Most of us have concluded that the lessons of the great wars of the twentieth century proved that we cannot simply ignore events around the world and assume we will not be affected. Globalization has made this truer than ever before. Multinational corporations, labor competition, trade agreements, global investing, the Internet, international tensions, and much, much more, give us evidence every day that the rest of the world is happening to us, and we are happening to it as well. It is more important than ever that students grasp what life and history have been like for other people around the world in the hope that we can better understand each other, conquer shared problems together, and preserve peace and prosperity for the rest of this century.
Comparative Government and Politics is also an amazing training regimen for critical thinking and analysis skills. Making comparisons between countries, and attempting to find cause-and-effect relationships between history, constitutional design, and political outcomes will stretch your mind in ways that feel invigorating and enlightening.
Finally, it is simply a very interesting course! I am confident you will find your readings and studies of AP Comparative Government and Politics more enjoyable and enriching than just about any other course you study in high school.
The curriculum for AP designated classes is created and approved by the College Board. The College Board administers a test in each AP subject every May. Students with qualifying scores earn hours of credit at colleges and universities across the United States. The exam is broken into two sections:
Crucially, you should understand that scoring on these essay questions is completely based on whether you know the correct answer, and are able to demonstrate your knowledge with a complete explanation. An incredibly written treatise that includes only incorrect answers will receive zero points. The most important preparation you can do for the free-response section is to study the course content, and know your stuff!
This book is a companion to your studies in an AP class. It is meant to simplify and review the most important concepts you need to understand, and to provide you with useful examples where appropriate. It is not a substitute for a full text and readings in AP Comparative Government and Politics, but it can assist you in your understanding of them. Some AP Comparative Government and Politics classes are taught thematically, covering each of the five themes of the course (Political Institutions, Political Culture and Participation, etc.) while bouncing between countries in discussing each theme. Others are taught by country, introducing a number of important concepts and definitions, and then studying the countries in-depth one by one. This book is organized the second way. The first six chapters address general concepts, limiting the specific application to countries except as illustrations. The final six chapters address each of the six countries of study individually. Even if your teacher is organizing your class thematically, this book is still very useful to you. I have organized the study of each country by theme as headings within each country chapter, hopefully making it easier for you to find the relevant sections to follow along.
In addition to a course textbook and this review book, you will also benefit tremendously from reading any current news coming out of the six countries of study, especially as it pertains to public policy issues and debates over reforms to their political processes and institutions. This is an excellent way to get a sense of the character of the countries, and build a library of examples you can use when answering the free-response questions on the AP exam.
I sincerely hope you enjoy your time studying AP Comparative Government and Politics, and that you find this book to be a helpful resource to you in succeeding on the AP exam. Good luck!