GV955-7-SP-CO:
Comparative European Politics II
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
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 L240EB Global and Comparative Politics,
MSC L240EK Global and Comparative Politics
This course is about how representative democracy works in Europe. It builds on the topics from GV952-7-AU, and it applies them. 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 democratic theory, corruption, European Union politics, and social & economic policymaking in Europe.
- 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 16: Types of Democracies (Majoritarian and Consensual) and Evaluating Democracy, and Governing Coalitions
- Week 17-18: Immigration and Populism in Europe
- Week 19-23: Group Country Presentations (Applying Weeks 2-16 to our specific understanding of European countries)
- Week 24: My Turn: The European Union, Democratic Deficit, and Deliberative Democracy (Part I)
- Week 25: The EU Part II and Review
The module will be delivered via:
- 2 hour seminar, 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 |
Group County Presentation |
21/03/2024 |
25% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
01/05/2024 |
75% |
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
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
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