This course introduces students to the primary concepts and terminology of political science. We will discuss defining components of politics like the interaction between states and the market. Students will explore the ways that values, ideas, and cultures can impact politics and political structures and examine the formal structures and functions of government. We will talk about the politics of developing and developed states and consider a variety of case studies, including India, China, Canada, and the United States. Finally, the course will explore different forms of political participation as well as politics in an ever-globalizing world. Students will be asked to explore newsworthy events through the framework and concepts introduced in course readings.