This course surveys the main theories of comparative politics and introduces the comparative method, a tool for explaining why and how broadly similar polities employ different approaches in seeking to solve common problems. Although we will examine a variety of issues in this course, we will focus intensively on the complex interplay of factors that produces cross-national variation in policy responses to the challenges of sustainable development, which is the theme of Georgia Tech’s current Quality Enhancement Plan. As part of this exercise, students will be tasked with employing tools of comparative analysis in assessing the response of a particular country to a sustainability-related issue. It is expected that this exercise will highlight the importance of politics, context, and international interdependence in efforts to achieve sustainability.