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 L240EB 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)
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Anthony Downs (1957) ‘An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy’,
Journal of Political Economy, 65(2), pp. 135–150. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/1827369.
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Bonnie M. Meguid (2005) ‘Competition between Unequals: The Role of Mainstream Party Strategy in Niche Party Success’,
The American Political Science Review, 99(3), pp. 347–359. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/30038944.
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Kitschelt, H. (1988) ‘Organization and Strategy of Belgian and West German Ecology Parties: A New Dynamic of Party Politics in Western Europe?’,
Comparative Politics, 20(2). Available at:
https://doi.org/10.2307/421663.
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Green, J. and Jennings, W. (2012) ‘Valence as Macro-Competence: An Analysis of Mood in Party Competence Evaluations in Great Britain’,
British Journal of Political Science, 42(2), pp. 311–343. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123411000330.
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John M. CareySimon Hix (2011) ‘The Electoral Sweet Spot: Low-Magnitude Proportional Electoral Systems’,
American Journal of Political Science, 55(2), pp. 383–397. Available at:
https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=59748932&site=ehost-live&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
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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.
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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.
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Hooghe, L. and Marks, G. (2018) ‘Cleavage theory meets Europe’s crises: Lipset, Rokkan, and the transnational cleavage’,
Journal of European Public Policy, 25(1), pp. 109–135. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2017.1310279.
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Lipset, S.M. and Rokkan, S. (1967) Party systems and voter alignments: cross-national perspectives. New York, NY: Free Press.
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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.
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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.
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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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Bustikova, Lenka (2014) ‘Revenge of the Radical Right’,
Comparative Political Studies, 47(12), pp. 1738–1765. Available at:
https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/compls47&i=1699.
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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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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://www.jstor.org/stable/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.
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 |
Essay 1 & 2 |
|
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 Damien Bol
King's College London
Senior Lecturer
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
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