GV952-7-AU-CO:
Contemporary European Politics: Continuity, Challenge, and Change
2025/26
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
13 August 2024
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 L240EB Global and Comparative Politics,
MSC L240EK Global and Comparative Politics
This module is about democratic political processes in Europe. The first part will be devoted to studying the origins of party systems, the impact of different electoral systems on party competition, and linkages between citizens and politicians in West and East European countries. In the second part, we will analyse the rise of populist and extremist parties, democratic backsliding, and institutional mechanisms that constrain political officials. The module 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 enable students to develop their thinking with a sound knowledge of contemporary European politics and to write clearly and logically about the advantages and limitations of comparative research.
- To provide students with the opportunity to understand the linkages between empirical facts and abstract concepts.
- To enable students to retrieve, synthesise and critically evaluate information from diverse sources.
- To provide an overview of writing effectively for different audience.
- To provide students with the opportunity to revise written work based on feedback.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of contemporary European politics and understand the advantages and limitations of comparative research. Specifically, participants will become familiar with important academic debates in political party behaviour, the rise of extremism, democratic backsliding, and accountability mechanisms.
- Critically assess the validity of conflicting theoretical claims and arguments on the basis of appropriate empirical evidence.
- Demonstrate their analytical and writing skills, by composing short response papers and a grant application, and tailoring their writing to different audiences and reflect on the skills they are bringing to a research project.
Syllabus
- Week 2: Methods and Concepts of Comparative Research
- Week 3: Social Cleavages and Party Systems
- Week 4: Dynamics of Party Competition
- Week 5: Populist Parties and Linkages between Voters and Citizens
- Week 6: Economic Crises and the Rise of Radical Right Parties
- Week 7: Electoral Systems
- Week 8: Sources of Polarization and Depolarization
- Week 9: Social Capital
- Week 10: Democratic backsliding
- Week 11: Unitary States, Federal States, Devolution, and Bicameralism
The module will be delivered via:
- 2 hours, in person (on campus)
-
Munck, Gerardo L.Snyder, Richard (2007) ‘Debating the Direction of Comparative Politics: An Analysis of Leading Journals’,
Comparative Political Studies, 40(2007), pp. 5–31200740. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414006294815.
-
Gerring, John (2007) ‘Is There a (Viable) Crucial-Case Method?’,
Comparative Political Studies, 40(2007), pp. 231–253200740. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414006290784.
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Przeworski, A. and Teune, H. (1982) ‘Chapter 2 - Research Designs’, in The logic of comparative social inquiry. Malabar, Fla: R.E. Krieger.
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John Gerring (2004) ‘What Is a Case Study and What Is It Good for?’,
The American Political Science Review, 98(2), pp. 341–354. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055404001182.
-
Gonzalez-Ocantos, Ezequiel (2020) ‘Designing Qualitative Research Projects: Notes on Theory Building, Case Selection and Field Research’, in
Handbook of Research Methods in Political Science and International Relations. Available at:
https://sk-sagepub-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/reference/the-sage-handbook-of-research-methods-in-political-science-and-ir/i1616.xml.
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Kitschelt, Herbert (2000) ‘Linkages between Citizens and Politicians in Democratic Polities’,
Comparative Political Studies, 33(2000), pp. 845–879200033. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/001041400003300607.
-
Hooghe, Liesbet and Marks, Gary (2017b) ‘Cleavage theory meets Europe’s crises: Lipset, Rokkan, and the transnational cleavage’, Cleavage theory meets Europe’s crises: Lipset, Rokkan, and the transnational cleavage, pp. 1–27.
-
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Moffitt, B. (2015) ‘How to Perform Crisis: A Model for Understanding the Key Role of Crisis in Contemporary Populism’,
Government and Opposition, 50(2), pp. 189–217. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26350371.
-
Cas Mudde (2004) ‘The Populist Zeitgeist’,
Government and Opposition, 39(4), pp. 541–563. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44483088.
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Caramani, Daniele (2017) ‘Will vs. Reason: The Populist and Technocratic Forms of Political Representation and Their Critique to Party Government’,
American Political Science Review, 111(1). Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26288979.
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Rydgren, J. (2007) ‘The Sociology of the Radical Right’,
Annual Review of Sociology, 33(1), pp. 241–262. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.33.040406.131752.
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Borchardt, K. (1991)
Perspectives on modern German economic history and policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511622304.
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McGann, A.J. and Kitschelt, H. (2005) ‘The Radical Right in The Alps’,
Party Politics, 11(2), pp. 147–171. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068805049734.
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CUSACK, T.R., IVERSEN, T. and SOSKICE, D. (2007) ‘Economic Interests and the Origins of Electoral Systems’,
American Political Science Review, 101(3), pp. 373–391. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055407070384.
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G. Bingham Powell, Jr.Georg S. Vanberg (2000) ‘Election Laws, Disproportionality and Median Correspondence: Implications for Two Visions of Democracy’,
British Journal of Political Science, 30(3), pp. 383–411. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/194001.
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Schleiter, P. and Tavits, M. (2016) ‘The Electoral Benefits of Opportunistic Election Timing’,
The Journal of Politics, 78(3), pp. 836–850. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1086/685447.
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McCoy, J. and Somer, M. (2019) ‘Toward a Theory of Pernicious Polarization and How It Harms Democracies: Comparative Evidence and Possible Remedies’,
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 681(1), pp. 234–271. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716218818782.
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Bonotti, M.
et al. (2018) ‘In Defence of Political Parties: A Symposium on Jonathan White and Lea Ypi’s’,
Political Studies Review, 16(4), pp. 289–305. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929918755662.
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Sunstein, C.R. (2002) ‘The Law of Group Polarization’,
Journal of Political Philosophy, 10(2), pp. 175–195. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9760.00148.
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Craiutu, Aurelian (2018b) ‘Critical Dialogue – The meaning of partisanship. Review of J. White and L. Ypi’s book’, Critical Dialogue – The meaning of partisanship. Review of J. White and L. Ypi’s book, 16(1), pp. 194–196.
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Craiutu, Aurelian (2018a) ‘Critical Dialogue – Response to J. White and L. Ypi’, Critical Dialogue – Response to J. White and L. Ypi, 16(1), pp. 196–198.
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Schmitter, P.C. and Karl, T.L. (1991) ‘What Democracy Is. . . and Is Not’,
Journal of Democracy, 2(3), pp. 75–88. Available at:
https://muse-jhu-edu.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/article/225590/.
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Alejandro Portes (2000) ‘The Two Meanings of Social Capital’,
Sociological Forum, 15(1), pp. 1–12. Available at:
https://essex.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44UOES_INST/1h1udbn/cdi_jstor_primary_3070334.
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Berman, Sheri (1997) ‘Civil Society and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic’,
World Politics, 49(3), pp. 401–429. Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/wpot49&i=454.
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Gesthuizen, M., van der Meer, T. and Scheepers, P. (2009) ‘Ethnic Diversity and Social Capital in Europe: Tests of Putnam’s Thesis in European Countries’,
Scandinavian Political Studies, 32(2), pp. 121–142. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9477.2008.00217.x.
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Waldner, D. and Lust, E. (2018) ‘Unwelcome Change: Coming to Terms with Democratic Backsliding’,
Annual Review of Political Science, 21(1), pp. 93–113. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-050517-114628.
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Kelemen, R.D. (2017) ‘Europe’s Other Democratic Deficit: National Authoritarianism in Europe’s Democratic Union’,
Government and Opposition, 52(2), pp. 211–238. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/gov.2016.41.
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Blauberger, M. and Kelemen, R.D. (2017) ‘Can courts rescue national democracy? Judicial safeguards against democratic backsliding in the EU’,
Journal of European Public Policy, 24(3), pp. 321–336. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2016.1229357.
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Bogdanor, V. (2005) ‘CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN BRITAIN: The Quiet Revolution’,
Annual Review of Political Science, 8(1), pp. 73–98. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.8.082103.104930.
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Heller, W.B. (2007) ‘Divided Politics: Bicameralism, Parties, and Policy in Democratic Legislatures’,
Annual Review of Political Science, 10(1), pp. 245–269. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.10.071105.112758.
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Thorlakson, L. (2003) ‘Comparing federal institutions: Power and representation in six federations’,
West European Politics, 26(2), pp. 1–22. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380512331341081.
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Fabbrini, S. (2003) ‘Bringing Robert A Dahl’s Theory of Democracy to Europe’,
Annual Review of Political Science, 6(1), pp. 119–137. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.6.010302.115514.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Short Response Paper 1 |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Short response paper 2 |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Grant Proposal |
|
60% |
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
Please contact govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Kyriaki Nanou
Durham University
Associate Professor in European politics
Available via Moodle
Of 2 hours, 2 (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
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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