GV383-6-AU-CO:
German Politics I
2024/25
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
26 April 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
The aim of this module is to provide a profound understanding of contemporary German politics. For this purpose, the course will give a brief overview over Germany’s post-war political development. We will examine, in particular, the role of political culture and political institutions as determinants of successful democratisation. The challenge of bridging the East-West divide after reunification will receive special focus.
The course sheds light on general trends and developments that Germany shares with other countries, such as the increasing fluidity of electoral preferences or the fragmentation of the party system. At the same time, the course outlines and discusses some of the more distinct features of the German case, such as its ‘militant democracy’, mixed-member proportional electoral system, and the role of the second chamber and the Constitutional Court as veto-players. Contextualising and discussing current events in German politics will also be an integral part of this module.
The aim of this module is:
- To provide students with a thorough knowledge and understanding of German politics.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of Germany’s polity;
- Understand Germany’s political culture and institutions;
- Assess the German case in comparison with other country cases;
- Analyse challenges the country is facing.
No additional information available.
The module will be delivered via:
- 1x2 hour seminar each week
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Coursework |
Essay |
|
60% |
Coursework |
Online Test |
|
40% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Daniele Saracino, email: daniele.saracino@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Daniele Saracino
Please contact govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Edward Morgan-Jones
University of Kent
Reader in Comparative Politics
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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