POL202 — Introduction to Political Analysis

About this course

POL202 Introduction to Political Analysis is a 200 Level course in the Political Science department, taught in the Second Semester. On La-Net Hub you can watch all 26 recorded lectures for free, grouped into 10 series, read the course lecture note online or download it as a PDF, and test yourself with practice questions.

This introductory series lays the groundwork for understanding political analysis by examining the major theoretical frameworks used to study political phenomena. Students will explore key schools of thought and analytical approaches that shape how political scientists observe, interpret, and explain political behavior, institutions, and systems. Designed as a 2-credit unit introductory course, it equips students with the conceptual tools necessary for deeper engagement with political science as an academic discipline.

This series explores the competing perspectives, paradigms, and frameworks that shape how politics is studied and interpreted. Students will examine the major ideological orientations and analytical paradigms in political science including realism, liberalism, Marxism, and constructivism and assess how each offers a distinct lens for understanding political behavior, power, and institutions. It deepens students' capacity for critical thinking and analytical reasoning in political discourse.

Lectures in this course

Series 1: Series 1: Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis · Part 1

1. Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis Part 1 10 minutes 8 seconds
2. Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis Part 2 13 minutes 46 seconds
3. Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis Part 3 00:00:00

Series 2: Series 1: Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis · Part 2

1. Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis 1 14 minutes
2. Theoretical Approaches to Political Analysis 2 12 minutes 32 seconds

Series 3: Series 2: Contending Orientations and Paradigms in Politics · Part 1

1. Seeing Politics Differently: Paradigms That Shape Our World 1 14 minutes 16 seconds
2. Seeing Politics Differently: Paradigms That Shape Our World 2 14 minutes 45 seconds
3. Seeing Politics Differently: Paradigms That Shape Our World 3 7 minutes 13 seconds

Series 4: Series 2: Contending Orientations and Paradigms in Politics · Part 2

1. Seeing Politics Differently: Paradigms That Shape Our World 1 12 minutes 45 seconds
2. Seeing Politics Differently: Paradigms That Shape Our World 2 11 minutes 4 seconds
3. Seeing Politics Differently: Paradigms That Shape Our World 3 9 minutes 12 seconds

Series 5: Series 3: The Comparative Method in Political Study · Part 1

1. Compare to Understand: The Power of the Comparative Method in Politics 1 14 minutes 18 seconds
2. Compare to Understand: The Power of the Comparative Method in Politics 2 13 minutes 12 seconds
3. Compare to Understand: The Power of the Comparative Method in Politics 3 10 minutes 58 seconds

Series 6: Series 3: The Comparative Method in Political Study · Part 2

1. Compare to Understand: The Power of the Comparative Method in Politics 1 13 minutes 13 seconds
2. Compare to Understand: The Power of the Comparative Method in Politics 2 14 minutes 35 seconds
3. Compare to Understand: The Power of the Comparative Method in Politics 3 7 minutes 45 seconds

Series 7: Series 4: Regime Types, Representation, and Political Efficiency · Part 1

1. Regimes, Representation, and Efficiency 1 13 minutes 35 seconds
2. Regimes, Representation, and Efficiency 2 9 minutes 46 seconds
3. Regimes, Representation, and Efficiency 3 7 minutes 38 seconds

Series 8: Series 4: Regime Types, Representation, and Political Efficiency · Part 2

1. Regimes, Representation, and Efficiency 1 13 minutes 23 seconds
2. Regimes, Representation, and Efficiency 2 14 minutes 59 seconds

Series 9: Series 5: Citizen Participation and Political Culture · Part 1

1. How Culture and Participation Shape Governance 1 14 minutes 18 seconds
2. How Culture and Participation Shape Governance 2 8 minutes 53 seconds

Series 10: Series 5: Citizen Participation and Political Culture · Part 2

1. How Culture and Participation Shape Governance 1 13 minutes 13 seconds
2. How Culture and Participation Shape Governance 2 8 minutes 11 seconds

Lecture note

Read the full POL202 lecture note online or download the PDF.

Open lecture note

More Political Science courses

• PAD 216 — Introduction to Public Administration
• POL 206 — Introduction to Public Administration
• POL 208 — INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION AND DEVELOPMENT
• POL 210 — COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT
• POL 212 — GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF URBAN SYSTEM
• POL204 — Foundation of Political Economy