Description
All students in the Political Science MA program are required to enrol in a Thesis Seminar in the subfield of their choice. The broad theme of this year’s Thesis Seminar in Comparative Politics is “Parties, Elections and Democracy”, however the seminar is open to other topics within Comparative Politics as well.
Part I seeks to provide an overview of the current approaches and theories in the subfield. Class discussions will focus on some of the major questions related to parties and elections and their contribution to a democratic form of government. In addition, we will explore the methodological challenges of studying these questions. Students are expected to think critically about these issues and approaches and use them as a basis for coming up with their own thesis topics and research questions.
Based on the training they received in the “Theories and Methods” course from the previous semester, students are expected to undertake a literature review and put together a thesis proposal which will form the basis of the MA thesis they will write for Part II of the Thesis Seminar.
Methods of instruction
Lectures, class discussions and supervision
Study material
Approximately 600 pages for Part I based on the course reader, plus additional material made available through Blackboard. Readings for Part II consist of students’ own research.
Examination
Part I: literature review, research proposal, attendance and participation
Part II: MA thesis evaluated by seminar supervisor and 2nd reader.
**Time table*
Tuesday February 3, till May 26, 13.00 -15.00 p.m. in SA35 (except 5/5 Liberation Day) and
Thursday February 5, till May 28, 13.00 -15.00 p.m. in 2A36 (except 30/4 Koninginnedag and 21/5 Ascension Day)