Examines Canada as a neglected area of political study. Suggests the inclusion of Canada in the comparative politics curriculum because it offers rich comparative opportunities with its cultural pluralism, parliamentary system, and authentic federalism. Lists associations and funding sources for Canadian studies and recommends several textbooks.…

Reports findings of a 1976 survey of political scientists concerning curriculum development in intergovernmental relations. Compared with a 1968 survey, responses show expanded treatment of topics related to American federalism, and an increase in intergovernmental relations content in introductory political science courses at larger colleges and…

Advocates a conceptual approach, rather than a country-by-country format, for teaching about industrial democracies because this approach is conducive to generalizations. Notes the neglect of studying small democracies such as Belgium and the Netherlands, which may serve as exceptions to the conventional wisdom about effective democracies. (LS)

Reviews the current state of European studies and gives reasons for including more material on the European community in political science courses. Describes resources for the study of the European community and identifies ways of implementing such a program. (Author/AV)

Discusses instruction on communist systems and questions whether they should be taught as isolated groupings, given the resulting tendency to distortion. Suggests alternative integrative categories for these systems. Explores the difficulty of teaching these systems in a hostile and polemical environment and offers suggestions to compensate for…

Investigates high school student exposure to education about state government by examining student enrollment, course offerings, textbooks, and curriculum guides. Concludes that there is a need for more extensive treatment of state government politics and political behavior, and less coverage of details of institutional structures. (Author/DB)

Since the end of the Vietnam War there has been a flood of new historical information vastly revising much of what anyone--left, right, or center--knew. Teachers must take this into account when teaching about Vietnam. All major competing perceptions of the Vietnam war should be analyzed objectively. (RM)

Change is a subject of ever-growing importance for public administration. Discussed are six major perspectives recommended as categories to be combined in various ways to construct graduate courses on change. Also presented are sample exercises for use with doctoral and master's students undertaking the study of change. (RM)

Discusses three major problems within the field of political science in Mexico: the dearth of classes offered, lack of consensus on the content of courses, and the very limited role of political theory. Provides charts and statistics on the state of political science in the country. (RW)

Notes the need for political development courses, but points out the lack of agreement about scope and methodologies. Explores the theoretical and substantive problems in construction of such courses for the 1990s. Discusses attempts to identify a core subject matter, stating that the broader range of theory and subject has freshened discourse on…

Peculiar problems and opportunities that arise in teaching about the Vietnam War to a generation that has little historical memory of the events and virtually no emotional investment in the issues are discussed. (RM)

Maintains that a course in U.S. political thought is necessary to increase students' knowledge of democracy, liberty, and human rights. Provides course goals, structure, and useful texts. Suggests a topical format rather than a chronological approach. Focuses on judicial opinions as an important indicator of traditional values. (RW)