Admission requirements
None
Description
This course focuses on the changing role of political parties in democratic systems. On the basis of a number of classic publications in this subfield of political science, attention is paid to the relationship between political parties and representative democracy, the functions of political parties in both consolidated and new democracies, and the role parties play concerning the representation of their constituents. Finally, we will zoom in on contemporary debates about the legitimacy of political parties in the 21st century, and discuss potential alternatives to party democracy.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, students are expected to:
1) Be familiar with both the classic and modern academic literature on the role of political parties in democratic systems, and have knowledge of the accompanying concepts and discussions;
2) Be able to provide an informed and analytical contribution to discussions about the relationship between political parties, political representation, and (representative) democracy, in both oral and written form.
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Seminar, consisting of:
close readings;
individual presentations;
group discussions;
group work
Course Load
The total course load of this course is 280 hours (10 ECTS).
This consists of:
seminar attendance (56 hours)
reading and analyzing course literature (140 hours)
preparing individual presentation (14 hours)
preparing and writing research papers (70 hours)
Assessment method
The final grade for this course is based on the following elements:
1) An individual presentation (15%)
2) Two research papers (2x 35% = 70%)
3) Attendance and participation (15%)
For information about the re-take: see blackboard and syllabus
Blackboard
Blackboard is used in this course. Students hand in their papers online via turn-it-in, and blackboard will be used to communicate course information to students.
Reading list
In addition to the syllabus, the course material for this course includes:
Manin, B. (1997). The Principles of Representative Government. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Dalton, R.J. (2004). Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mair, P. (2013). Ruling the Void. London: Verso.
Articles in academic journals (available through the digital library).
Registration
See Preliminary Info
Contact
Dr. W.P. Veenendaal, room 5B15 (FSW)
E-mail: w.p.veenendaal@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
Phone: 071-5273392