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, Italy, 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 (approx. 1000 pp)
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, Chistropher S. Allen, Stephen Hellman, David Ost, George Ross (2008), European Politics in Transition, 6th Edition, Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Additional material made available through Blackboard.
Examination
Final exam and bonus marks for working group participation.
Exam
donderdag 27 oktober 2011, 13.00-16.00 uur, USC
Re-exam
vrijdag 13 januari 2012, 9.00-12.00 uur, SA41
You can register for an exam or retake through USIS until 10 days before the exam or retake
Schedule:
Lectures
dinsdag 6 september t/m 18 oktober, 9.00-11.00 uur, 1A20 (behalve 4 okt zaal SA41) en
vrijdag 9 september t/m 21 oktober, 9.00-11.00 uur, 1A20 (behalve 30 september in plaats daarvan bijeenkomst op woensdag 5 okt van 09-11 uur en 14 oktober in plaats daarvan bijeenkomst op maandag 17 oktober van 09-11 uur)
Workgroups
werkgroep 1: vrijdag 9 september t/m 21 oktober, 11.00-13.00 uur, 5B04
werkgroep 2: vrijdag 9 september t/m 21 oktober, 11.00-13.00 uur, 5B02
werkgroep 3: vrijdag 9 september t/m 21 oktober, 13.00-15.00 uur, 5B04 (behalve 30 sept en 14 en 21 okt 1A15)
werkgroep 5: vrijdag 9 september t/m 21 oktober, 15.00-17.00 uur, 1A33
Minor Students
For those taking this course for 5 ECTS as a part of the political science minor ‘Conflict and Consensus’ the exam will be modified accordingly and working-group sessions are to be considered optional (though recommended).