Web Site of the Department  

Head of Department: Murat Önder

Associate Department Head: 

Professors : Mine Eder, Hakan Yılmaz*, Mehmet Ali Çiçekdağ*

Associate Professors : Murat Akan, Zühre Aksoy, Zeynep Gambetti*, Dilek Cınar*, Gün Kut, Aslı Çalkıvık*

Assistant Professors :  Mert Arslanalp, Selçuk Aydın, Volkan Çıdam, Gaye İlhan Demiryol, Dr. Mehmet Gök*, Yeon Kyung Grace Park, Başak Taraktaş, Alper Yağcı

* Part-time
 

The Department of Political Science and International Relations offers Master's and Ph.D. programs at the graduate level. 

The aim of the M.A. program in Political Science and International Relations is to equip students with specialized knowledge in their areas of interest. The students can focus on Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Turkish Politics as their subfields.

An M.A. degree in Political Science and International Relations Department, prepares students for jobs in a variety of fields, ranging from civil service to foreign affairs, press, media, the private sector and free lance sector.

The M.A. program also aims to encourage students for further study towards a Ph.D. degree and a subsequent career in the academia. The Ph.D. program guides students to generate new knowledge and contribute to academic life.

The graduates of the Ph.D. program regularly staff the departments of Political Science and International Relations at other Turkish universities.

MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

TotalCredits: 24 Credits
Total ECTS: Minimum 129 Credits

M.A. Thesis: Candidates for the M. A. degree are required to write a thesis and defend it.

Ph.D. Entrance Examination: Those who successfully completed their M.A. program with a thesis must take the entrance examination for the Ph.D. program.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Total Credits: 24 Credits
Total ECTS: Minimum 243 Credits

Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination: Students will be examined by a committee after the completion of at least 24 credits at the Ph.D. level. Students who pass this examination may register for POLS 790 to write their dissertation.

Dissertation: Students who complete their dissertation are required to defend it.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

COMPARATIVE POLITICS

POLS 509 Problems of Transition to Democracy and Democratization (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Demokrasiye ve Demokratikleşmeye Geçiş Sorunları)
Study of factors that shape transitions from authoritarian to democratic regimes, with emphasis on institution building in comparative multiparty regimes.

POLS 511 Public Policy Analysis (3+0+0) 3
(Kamu Politikaları Analizi)
Examination of models of policy analysis within an analytical framework. The process of policy formation, policy outputs, and the consequences of public policies.

POLS 535 Contemporary Issues in Middle Eastern Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Ortadoğu Siyasetinde Güncel Sorunlar)
Study of the politics surrounding topical issues in the Middle East.

POLS 536 Literary Texts and Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Edebi Metinler ve Siyaset)
Seminar on selected works of literature examined in terms of social and political change.

POLS 541 Comparative Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset)
Study of the comparative method in political science and major approaches to contemporary issues in the field.

POLS 544 Politics of Advanced Industrial States (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Sanayileşmiş Ülkelerde Siyaset)
Comparative analysis of political change and economic transformation in modern industrial states with special reference to domestic structures and institutions.

POLS 545 Contemporary Issues in European Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Avrupa Siyasetinde Güncel Sorunlar)
Detailed study of topical issues and problems in European politics.

POLS 547 Economic and Social Change in the Middle East (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Ortadoğu'da Ekonomik ve Toplumsal Değişim)
Examination of changing social structures and the problems of identity and legitimacy in the Middle East. Cultural, ethnic, religious and class divisions. The legacy of imperialism.

POLS 555 Political Sociology (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Siyaset Sosyolojisi)
Survey of political forms, tribal groups, patrimonial and feudal systems and the formation of the modern nation-state.

POLS 634 Contemporary Issues in Gender and Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Siyaset: Güncel Sorunlar)
Theoretical controversies and empirical developments in the study of gender and politics.

POLS 642 Politics and Ideology in the Middle East (3+0+0) 3
(Orta Doğu'da Siyaset ve Ideoloji)
Thematic study of politics and ideologies in the contemporary Middle East with emphasis on selected countries.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

POLS 521 International Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Uluslararası Politika)
Contending theoretical approaches to the study of international politics. Methodological problems. The boundaries and content of the field.

POLS 522 Developing Countries in International Politics (3+0+0) 3
(Uluslararası Siyasette Gelişmekte Olan Ülkeler)
Examination of the role of the developing countries in international politics with particular focus on increased differentiation within these states with the emergence of NICs. The implications of the end of the Cold War for the future of South and North-South relations.

POLS 525 Current Issues in World Politics I (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Dünya Siyasetinde Güncel Sorunlar I)
New forces in world politics and the evolution of the contemporary system. Case studies of selected problem areas in regional and global politics.

POLS 526 Current Issues in World Politics II (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Dünya Siyasetinde Güncel Sorunlar II)
Theoretical implications of current developments in regional and global politics. Discussion of selected issues.

POLS 527 International Politics of the Balkans (3+0+0) 3
(Balkanlar'da Uluslararası Siyaset)
Examination of the role of the Balkans in international politics with special emphasis on the politics of the post-Cold War era.

POLS 528 Nationalism and Ethnicity in World Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Dünya Siyasetinde Etnik Sorunlar ve Milliyetçilik)
Examination of nationalism, nation-building, the nation, state and the nation-state system. Special emphasis on ethnicity in the post-Cold War era.

POLS 529 International Law and Organizations (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Uluslararası Hukuk ve Örgütler)
Examination of nature and evolution of international law and organizations, with particular emphasis on the United Nations.

POLS 631 International Migration and Refugees (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Uluslararası Göç ve Mülteciler)
Study of the causes and consequences of international migration and refugee movements with particular emphasis on the role of government, IGOs, and NGOs in the management and resolution of problems associated with migration and refugees.

POLS 644 Politics of Black Sea Cooperation (3+0+0) 3
(Siyasal Açıdan Karadeniz İşbirliği)
Examination of the Black Sea region and the problems and prospects for cooperation and stability in the area.

POLS 651 Politics of Soviet Successor States (3+0+0) 3
(Eski Sovyet Cumhuriyetlerinde Siyaset)
Examination of prospects for the former republics of the Soviet Union, with special emphasis on problems of transition to democracy, market economy, and their position in the emerging international system.

TURKISH POLITICS

POLS 507 Turkish Constitutional and Administrative Law (3+0+0) 3
(Türk Anayasa ve İdare Hukuku)
Organization, powers and functioning of the legislature, executive and the judiciary and their linkages with special reference to the operation of the administration.

POLS 519 Current Issues in Turkish Foreign Policy (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Türk Dış Politikasında Güncel Sorunlar)
Discussion of current problems and issue areas in Turkish foreign policy.

POLS 532 Turkish Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Türk Siyasal Yaşamı)
Turkish constitutional, political, and administrative system. Institutional and electoral structures, the role of political parties, interest groups, public opinion and the military.

POLS 534 Turkish Political Thought (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Türk Siyasal Düşüncesi)
Studies in the development of Turkish political thought from the foundation of the Republic to the present with special emphasis on the theoretical and ideological paradigm of the one-party period.

POLS 537 Political Culture of Turkish Society (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Türk Toplumunun Siyasal Kültürü)
Currents of thought and issues in Turkish political life since the 1920s with emphasis on Turkish political culture.

POLS 538 Constitutional and Political Change in Turkey (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Türkiye'de Siyasal ve Anayasal Değişimler)
Analysis of the main constitutional documents of the Republican era examining the interaction between constitution-making and politics in Turkey.

POLS 623 Turkey in World Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Dünya Siyasetinde Türkiye)
Study of the political processes of international organizations and their impact on Turkey's foreign and domestic policies. Politics and economics of regional integration and security communities.

POLS 632 Turkish Politics in Comparative Perspective (3+0+0) 3
(Karşılaştırmalı Açıdan Türk Siyasal Hayatı)
Analysis of the Turkish political system with emphasis on comparisons with other state systems.

POLS 635 Political Economy of Turkey (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Türkiye'nin Ekonomi Politiği)
Analysis of economic structures, class relations, political institutions and organized interest representation in a peripheral economy. Historical and theoretical perspectives.

POLS 638 Party Systems and Voting Behavior in Turkey (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Türkiye'de Parti Sistemleri ve Seçmen Davranışı)
Analysis of the Turkish party system since the late 1940s, with special emphasis on the evolution of party organization and changes in electoral behavior.

POLS 654 State and Bureaucracy in Turkey (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Türkiye'de Devlet ve Bürokrasi)
Typologies of state and bureaucracies from a historical and comparative perspective with special emphasis on state and bureaucracy in Turkey.

POLITICAL THEORY

POLS 552 Political Theory (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Siyaset Kuramı)
Study of political theory with emphasis on underlying assumptions behind theoretical debates.

POLS 553 Foundation of Political and Social Theory (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Siyasal ve Toplumsal Kuramların Temelleri)
Analysis of basic approaches to theory-building such as empiricism, phenomenology, structuralism and critical theory.

POLS 557 Political Liberalism (3+0+0) 3
(Siyasal Liberalizm)
Origins and development of liberalism and democracy. Liberal thought and practice in selected countries.

POLS 652 Politics and Ideology (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Siyaset ve İdeoloji)
Discussion of theoretical issues raised by the concept of ideology as legitimization and ideology as a cultural system.

POLS 653 Theories of State (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Devlet Kuramları)
Study of the nature and functions of the state. Liberal, Marxist and Fascist theories of the state and society. The state in developing, industrial and post-industrial societies.

POLS 658 Democratic Theory (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Demokrasi Kuramı)
The study of classical democratic theory and its critics. Evolution of democratic theory. Interaction between the theory and practice of democracy. Emphasis will be on the theoretical foundations and the functioning of the democratic system.

POLS 680 Selected Topics in the History of Political Thought (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 9
(Siyasal Düşünceler Tarihi: Seçme Konular)
A detailed analysis of selected issues in political and social theory. The content of the course is jointly arranged by the instructor and the students.

POLITICAL ECONOMY and METHODOLOGY

POLS 501 Advanced Research Methods (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Araştırma Yöntemleri)
Basic experimental and non-experimental methods available to social scientists. Logic of social scientific research.

POLS 502 Survey Research Methods (3+0+0) 3
(Alan Araştırması Yöntemleri)
Logic of survey research. Sampling techniques. Questionnaire design. Advantages and disadvantages of mail and telephone surveys and interviews. Interviewing techniques. Public opinion polls and market research.

POLS 512 Global Political Economy (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Küresel Ekonomi Politik)
Creation, maintenance, and transformation of international arrangements designed to manage or regulate inter-state activities relating to trade, money, resource use, technology, and physical environment.

POLS 523 Political Economy of Development (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 7
(Gelişmenin Ekonomi Politiği)
Comparative analysis of the politics of industrialization strategies and economic development, with particular focus on domestic structures and institutions.

SPECIAL SEMINARS

POLS 579 Graduate Seminar (0+1+0) 3 ECTS 7 Pass/Fail
(Lisansüstü Seminer)
The widening of students' perspectives and awareness of topics of interest to psychologists through seminars offered by faculty, guest speakers and graduate students.

POLS 581-584 Research and Reading in Turkish Politics I, II (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 6
(Türk Siyasal Hayatı: Araştırma I, II)
Individual research projects and/or critical readings.

POLS 585-588 Research and Reading in Political Theory I, II (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 6
(Siyaset Kuramı: Araştırma I, II)
Individual research projects, and/or critical readings.

POLS 589-592 Research and Reading in International Relations I, II (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 6
(Uluslararası İlişkiler; Araştırma I, II)

Individual research projects, and/or critical readings.

POLS 593-596 Research and Reading in Comparative Politics I, II (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 6
(Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Araştırma I, II)
Individual research projects, and/or critical readings.

POLS 597-599 Research and Reading in Quantitative Methods I, II (3+0+0) 3
(Sayısal Yöntemler: Araştırma I, II)
Individual research projects, and/or critical readings.

POLS 681-682 Research and Reading in Turkish Politics (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Türk Siyasal Hayatı Araştırmaları)
Individual research projects and/or critical readings.

POLS 683-684 Research and Reading in Political Theory (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Siyaset Kuramı Araştırmaları)
Individual research projects and/or critical readings.

POLS 685-686 Research and Reading in International Relations (3+0+0) 3 ECTS 8
(Uluslararası İlişkiler: Araştırma)
Individual research projects and/or critical readings.

POLS 687-688 Research and Reading in Comparative Politics (3+0+0) 3
(Karşılaştırmalı Siyaset: Araştırma)
Individual research projects and/or critical readings.

POLS 690 M.A. Thesis ECTS 60
(Yüksek Lisans Tezi)

POLS 691 Research and Reading in Research Methods (3+0+0) 3
(Araştırma Yöntemleri: Araştırma)
Individual research projects and/or critical readings.

POLS 700 Graduate Seminar (0+1+0) 0 ECTS 7
(Lisansüstü Seminer)
Seminars offered by faculty, guest speakers and graduate students designed to widen students' perspectives on specific topics of interest and to expand their range of scientific research techniques and publication ethics.

POLS 790 Ph.D. Dissertation ECTS 120
(Doktora Tezi)