Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Limited places are also open for exchange students. Please note: this course takes place in The Hague.
Description
The European subcontinent is home to approximately fifty states that are almost without exception democracies, as well as to the most ambitious intergovernmental organization worldwide – the European Union. In this course, we will study both the politics of the European states and the (recent) history, institutions, and policies of the European Union. The theoretical framework of the course is constituted primarily by comparative politics (especially constitutions, political parties, electoral systems, subnational governance, etc.). Next to the older democracies of Western Europe, the course will also look at the experience of the formerly communist states of Central and Eastern Europe.
Course objectives
Students gain insight into the politics of the modern democracies of Europe and of the European Union. They are trained to apply theories and concepts from comparative politics to particular cases from Europe. Students develop research and presentation skills through the tutorial.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Lecture and tutorials
Attending lectures and tutorials is compulsory. If you are not able to attend a lecture or tutorial, please inform the tutor of the course. Being absent without notification can result in a lower grade or exclusion from the final exam or essay.
Course Load
Total course load for the course 5 EC x 28 hours is 140 hours, broken down by:
Attending lectures: 24 hours;
attending tutorials: 8 hours;
tutorial assignments: 34 hours;
Preparation for lectures: 48 hours;
Preparation for exams: 26 hours.
Assessment method
Tutorials 30%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 40%
If the final grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), there is the possibility of retaking the full 70% of the exam material, replacing both the earlier mid- and endterm grades. No resit for the tutorials is possible.
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
Gallagher, Michael, Michael Laver, and Peter Mair. Representative government in modern Europe. McGraw-Hill, 2011.
Selected articles and book chapters
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Prof.dr. I.G.B.M. Duijvesteijn, email i.g.b.m.duijvesteijn@hum.leidenuniv.nl