GV952-7-AU-CO:
Comparative European Politics I
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
06 June 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA L24012 Global and Comparative Politics,
MA L240EB Global and Comparative Politics,
MA L240EK Global and Comparative Politics,
MSC L24012 Global and Comparative Politics,
MSC L240EK Global and Comparative Politics
This course is about how representative democracy works in Europe. We will examine several topics within the European context, including: public opinion, political participation, political parties, electoral systems, party competition, and how to evaluate democracies. We will also develop specific knowledge about several European countries, by learning how the political institutions (several are mentioned above) function within them. The course also provides an accessible introduction to research design and methods that political scientists have used to address these topics.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with a sound knowledge of contemporary European politics and to understand the advantages and limitations of comparative research.
- To enable students to become familiar with important academic debates in political party behaviour, the rise of extremism, democratic backsliding, and accountability mechanisms.
- To encourage students to critically assess the validity of conflicting theoretical claims and arguments on the basis of appropriate empirical evidence.
- To help students hone their analytical and writing skills. By composing short response papers, a grant application, an essay, and peer review comments, students will learn how to tailor their writing to different audiences.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the linkages between empirical facts and abstract concepts in the area of contemporary European politics
- Demonstrate the ability to retrieve, synthesise and critically evaluate information from diverse sources
- Demonstrate the ability to write effectively for different audiences
- Revise written work based on (sometimes conflicting) feedback
The module will cover the following topics:
- Week 2: The Democratic Process
- Week 3: Public Opinion
- Week 4: Conventional Political Participation (Voter Turnout)
- Week 5: Unconventional Political Participation (Protest)
- Week 6: Electoral Systems and Their Consequences
- Week 7: Elections and the Spatial Model of Voting
- Week 8: Concepts, Variables, Theory and the Comparative Method
- Week 9: Political Cleavages, Party Families, and Political Entrepreneurs
- Weeks 10-11: Types of Democracies (Majoritarian and Consensual) and Evaluating Democracy
The module will be delivered via:
- 2 hours, in person (on campus)
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 1 & 2 |
19/01/2024 |
100% |
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 Alexandra Hennessy, email: alexandra.hennessy@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Alexandra Hennessy
Module Supervisor: Alexandra Hennessy, alexandra.hennessy@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Kyriaki Nanou
Durham University
Associate Professor in European 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), module, or event type.
Government
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.