This course introduces students to the field of comparative politics. We will focus on the two most significant areas of study in the field: 1) (de)democratization and social change and 2) comparative political economy and economic development. Within these major themes we will touch on, but are not limited to, political authority and governance; democracy and representation; civil society and non-governmental organizations; the nexus of political and economic development; political culture and identity politics. We will examine these issues in the context of country cases, comparing different countries from the regions of the world.