Description
Purpose: 1. General introduction to the study of comparative politics. 2. The core concepts of the field are analysed within the context of five Western democracies.
Content: 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 (85%) and workgroup attendance and participation (15%).
Exam
Thursday 25 October, 9.00-12.00 hrs, in USC
Re-exam
Friday 11 January 2013, 9.00-12.00 hrs, in USC
You can register for an exam or retake through USIS until 10 days before the exam or retake
Schedule:
Lectures
Tuesday 4 September till 16 October, 9.00-11.00 hrs, Gorl. 03 (except 16 October in KOG / A144) and
Friday 7 September till 19 October, 9.00-11.00 hrs, Gorl. 01 (except 21 September in 1A20)
Workgroups
workgroup 1: Friday 7 September till 19 October, 11.00-13.00 hrs, 5B14
workgroup 2: Friday 7 September till 19 October, 11.00-13.00 hrs, SA21
workgroup 3: Friday 7 September till 19 October, 11.00-13.00 hrs, 6C03
workgroup 4: Friday 7 September till 19 October, 13.00-15.00 hrs, 1A22
workgroup 5: Tuesday 4 September till 16 October, 11.00-13.00 hrs, 5A29 (except 9 Oct. 5A41 and 16 Oct. 5A37)
workgroup 6: Friday 7 September till 19 October, 15.00-17.00 hrs, 5B14
workgroup 7: Thursday 6 September till 18 October, 9.00-11.00 hrs, 1A21 (except 6 Sep. 1A33, 4 Oct SA31, Oct. class cancelled and Wednesday 17 October 15.00-17.00 hrs, 1A24)
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).