Subseries 16.3 - Course POL321 and POL324

This subseries consists of course material for what Clarkson identified as courses on France and Germany: POL321 Comparative Politics and POL324 European Political Systems.

POL321 Comparative Politics was taught by Clarkson for two consecutive years between 1965 and 1967. It focused on three political systems: France (the Fifth Republic), India, and the U.S.S.R.. Questions and topics discussed in the course included: how historical tradition forms the country’s political culture; the role played by the constitution in the political system; the structures and functions of the political parties; the political role of ideologies (communism, nationalism, socialism, Gaullism), the bureaucracy, the army, and interest groups. Prior to 1965, this course, which examined the American and Soviet politics systems, was taught by Professors J. Stefan Dupré and Gordon H. Skilling. Some lecture notes and course material from Professors Dupré and Skilling are included in this subseries. Starting in 1965, the course solely dealt with European governments. Records consist of lecture notes, course outlines, annual examination templates, and essay topics. There are also some materials from POL425 Theory and Practice of Communism, a course taught by Professor Gordon H. Skilling.

Clarkson also taught the companion course POL324 European Political Systems in 1968-1969. That year, Clarkson’s objective was for students to achieve a first-hand understanding of the French political process by involving them in a major simulation exercise. Records in this subseries indicate that France, A Simulation of French Politics and A Simulation of the Political System of the Fifth Republic were alternate titles for the course that year. Course records date between 1966 and 1969 and include lecture notes, course outlines, and some correspondence. There is also supporting documentation, mainly annotated articles and essays, newspaper clippings, and notes. There is also material related to Clarkson’s involvement with the Groupe International Protestant (1962) as well as notes on the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (“CPSU”).

Open

See also: Student evaluations for this course can be found in Series 17 – Teaching: Student Evaluations and Ph.D. Files (B2016-0003/131)