Description:
This course builds on the themes discussed in Introduction to Political Science. The aim is to provide a general introduction to the study of comparative politics. The core concepts of the field are analysed within the context of five Western democracies: Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and the United States. Focus will be on the main political cleavages like class, ideology, ethnicity and religion, and how these divisions have played out in the countries under examination. In terms of the contents of the course, topics covered include Christian democracy, social democracy, liberalism, corporatism, the welfare state, nationalism, citizenship, party structures and electoral politics.
Methods of instruction:
Lectures and class discussions
Study material:
Literature (approx. 1000 pp):
- Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, Chistropher S. Allen, Stephen Hellman, David Ost, George Ross (2006) European Politics in Transition, 5th Edition, Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin; plus additional material made available through Blackboard
Examination:
Final exam and bonus marks for working group participation.
Time table
Hoorcolleges
woensdag 3 september t/m 15 oktober, 11.00 – 13.00 uur, 1A20
vrijdag 5 september t/m 17 oktober, 11.00 -13.00 uur, SA41 (behalve 3/10 Leidens Ontzet en 10/10 vervallen) en
maandag 6 oktober, 11.00 – 13.00 uur, 1A20
maandag 13 oktober, 11.00 – 13.00 uur, 1A20
Werkgroepen
werkgroep 1: woensdag 3 september t/m 15 oktober, 13.00 – 15.00 uur, 5B04
werkgroep 2: woensdag 3 september t/m 15 oktober, 13.00 – 15.00 uur, SA23
werkgroep 3: woensdag 3 september t/m 15 oktober, 13.00 – 15.00 uur, 5B04
werkgroep 4: woensdag 3 september t/m 15 oktober, 13.00 – 15.00 uur, SA23
werkgroep 5: woensdag 3 september t/m 15 oktober, 13.00 – 15.00 uur, 5B04