Бакалавриат
2026/2027
Политика и общество в европейских странах
ID 1123806
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Политология и мировая политика)
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук
Когда читается:
3-й курс, 3 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для своего кампуса
Преподаватели:
Максимовцова Ксения Викторовна
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
4
Контактные часы:
36
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course offers an introduction to the politics in European countries, combining topical and regional approaches. The objectives of the course are twofold: to familiarize students with the political life of European countries, and to closely scrutinize concepts from comparative politics that are overrepresented in (and often are unique to) the European continent. The course structure therefore aims to combine these approaches, so most ideas (e.g. polarized parliamentary systems, consensus democracies) will be analyzed in the framework of a broader discussion on various regions (e.g. Mediterranean or Benelux countries).
Learning Objectives
- The course comprises of 10 lectures (20 academic hours) and 10 seminars / discussion groups (20 academic hours). The following teaching methods are involved: Lectures: - Multimedia support: all lectures are followed by multimedia presentation (slides) with textual and visual materials; - Interactive lectures: interactive elements (quizzes, surveys) during the lecture are used. Seminars (tutorials): - Group presentations - Debates and open discussions based on the mandatory readings; - Mini-group work (collective tasks in class); - Case analysis individually or collectively.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- • Perceives and critically addresses the in socio-historical, ethical and philosophical perspectives of inter-cultural diversity.
- • Establishes causal inferences, assesses and evaluates social, political, and economic events and processes in a cross-national context; identifies trends and patterns of integrated development at the global, continental, macro-regional, national, and subnational levels.
- • Analyzes and interprets global and international political, social and economic processes to support management decision-making and prepare informational, analytical, and media materials.
- • Identifies the features and trends of socio-political development of regions and countries in Europe, and integrating this analysis in addressing professional tasks.
- • Provides analysis relevant for government authorities, representatives of business structures, institutions, organizations, and interested parties, concerning the major socio-political and economic processes of the European continent.
Course Contents
- ‘Sheer’ parliamentarism? Is there a ‘Mediterranean model’?
- Consensus and cooperation I: consociationalism and its variants (Alpine and Benelux countries).
- Consensus and cooperation II: moderate parliamentarism and minority cabinets (Nordic countries).
- A brief political history of Europe after 1945.
- Majoritarian democracies: Great Britain and France.
- Democracy by design: Germany.
- Patterns of democratic transitions in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Democratic backsliding and illiberalism: Hungary and Poland (+Bulgaria? Slovakia?).
- The politics of conflict and reconciliation in post-war Europe.
- Ideologies, Populism, and Polarization in Contemporary Europe
Assessment Elements
- Position paperRecommendations for the position paper The position paper shall be a problem-based, argumentative text demonstrating the student’s capacity to identify academically relevant problems, finding avenues to tackle it, and communicating her/his arguments in a persuasive, transparent, and succinct manner. The position paper should also demonstrate the student’s firm understanding on the differences between epistemic and methodological traditions. The position paper’s extent shall not exceed 1,000 words, including foot/endnotes, excluding the bibliography. The review part of the essay shall not exceed 40% of the position paper. The deadline for sending a position paper linked to each specific topic is the beginning of the following seminar session. Essay structure: 1. Short and general formulation of answer, outline of structure 2. Review of relevant claims in the literature 3. Critical review of relevant positions. 4. Core of argument, supported by analytical and/or empirical claims. 5. Conclusion, summarizing the core points of the argument. The retake is possible in the same form (for both the 1st and the 2nd retake). The usage of Chat GPT and other AI tools is not allowed for this task. It will result in an unsatisfactory grade ("0").
- Active and meaningful participation in class discussionsRecommendations for class participation - Meaningful engagement with the mandatory readings demonstrated - Own critical approach to the reading and lecture materials elucidated - By bringing in concepts and empirical examples from other fields of study, the student demonstrates a complex understanding of the introduced concepts - Contribution to the class dynamics: by reflecting on earlier points and comments, students can again demonstrate a practical understanding of the discussed concepts, as well as their abilities to understand the dynamics of ongoing discussions. Conversely, redundant and self-serving comments will lower the participation grade. - In case someone finds participation in discussions challenging, there is also an opportunity to send questions and comments related to the mandatory readings before the respective class sessions. The retake of this control element is not possible. Students class performance is assessed during the seminars’ discussion and follow-up questions after each lecture. Students are expected to reflect on the course’s content as well as readings for the class. Assessment criteria: «Excellent» (9-10) - A student demonstrates an excellent knowledge of the study material as well as of the advanced material not covered by the course, and the knowledge in adjacent fields. «Excellent» (8) A student demonstrates an excellent knowledge of the study material, the answer is complete, rare minor mistakes may occur. «Good» (6–7) Shows a fairly good evidence of preparatory research and broad background knowledge. Good oral expression, but some logical or factual mistakes can be identified. «Satisfactory» (4–5) Satisfactory overall, showing a fair knowledge of the topic, a reasonable standard of expression. Some hesitation in answering follow-up questions and/or gives incomplete, partly irrelevant, or incorrect answers. «Fail» (0–3) Limited evidence of relevant knowledge and an attempt to address the topic. Unable to offer relevant information or opinion in answer to follow-up questions.
- Group research projectsStudents are encouraged to split into several research groups, based on their regional preferences: language policies of the European Union and EU members; majoritarian and consensus democracies in Europe; democratic backsliding in Europe. Students are allowed to choose any country and present a group work based on the analysis of the obligatory and additional literature on the course. The retake is possible in the form of an individual oral or written presentation (for the 1st retake - written presentation, 2nd retake with the commission - oral presentation).
- Tests/quizzesThe grade is calculated as number of points obtained for correct answers divided by the total points possible to obtain and translated into percentage. The percentages are then translated into the ten-point grade using the following table. 0% – 0 >0-14% – 1 >15-30% – 2 >35-48% – 3 >49-59% – 4 >60-69% – 5 >70-79% – 6 >80-89% – 7 >90-94% – 8 >95-97% – 9 >98-100% – 10
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 3rd module0.3 * Tests/quizzes + 0.3 * Active and meaningful participation in class discussions + 0.2 * Group research projects + 0.2 * Position paper
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Adam Fagan, & Petr Kopecký. (2018). The Routledge Handbook of East European Politics. Routledge.
- José M. Magone. (2015). Routledge Handbook of European Politics. Routledge.
- The Oxford handbook of French politics / edited by Robert Elgie, Emiliano Grossman, and Amy G. Mazur. (2017). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.491423535
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Middleton, R. (2010). The Oxford Handbook of British Politics. By Matthew Flinders, Andrew Gamble, Colin Hay, and Michael Kenny. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.93428C94