Description
This seminar has two goals: The first is to make you familiar with the concepts, debates and earlier studies on public opinion and political actors. Furthermore, it has the ambition to improve your empirical skills and your writing on research findings.
Content: What does public opinion mean for politicians? How do they refer to ‘the opinions of the public’ in political debates? To what extent does public opinion shape political debates and public policy? These are the central questions that will be explored in this seminar. The seminar consists of a theoretical and a more empirical part. First, we will discuss the literature on public opinion with a clear focus on its meaning for political actors. This should give you insight on how this meaning has changed over time and place. Special attention will be given to these developments in the Netherlands. This seminar also looks at the normative debate on public opinion and politicians: Should politicians be very responsive to public opinion, or rather follow their own opinions of what is in the public’s interest? This debate will be discussed in the light of different theories on democracy and representation, and recent events in Dutch politics.
In the second part of the seminar, you should conduct your own (mini) research into the relation between politicians and public opinion. This can be done using a more qualitative in-depth approach or in a more quantitative way analyzing a longer period of time.
Methods of Instruction
Short lectures, class discussion of assigned readings and student presentations.
Study Material
Selection of scientific journal articles and/or book chapters.
Examination
You will be evaluated on participation, the assignments, and final paper.
You can register for an exam or retake through USIS until 10 days before the exam or retake.
Schedule
Monday 4 February till 25 March, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 1A03
Thursday 7 February, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 1A27
Thursday 14 February, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 1A12
Thursday 21 February, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in SA05
Thursday 28 February, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 5A29
Thursday 7 March, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 2B36
Thursday 14 March, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 1A03
Thursday 21 March, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 5A29
Thursday 28 March, 11.00 – 13.00 hrs in 1A12