Bachelor
2018/2019
Comparative Politics
Type:
Compulsory course (Political Science and World Politics)
Area of studies:
Political Science
When:
2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
5
Contact hours:
60
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course is the introduction to Comparative politics that is defined as a complex of studies, methodologies and methods aiming at comparatively oriented research of domestic and transnational politics. The course includes two modules. The first one touches the history and variety of methodological approaches in comparative politics as well as the nuts and bolts of comparative research design. The second module considers the core concepts of comparative politics such as political regimes, democratization and regime transitions, party systems, electoral systems, institutional designs (presidentialism and parliamentarism), voting behavior, federalism, political cultures and values
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Student is capable of choosing research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks.
- Student is capable of posing research problems relevant to the study of political phenomena and political processes; setting particular research tasks; and putting together a research design.
- Student is capable of retrieving, collecting, processing and analyzing information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field
- Able to conduct professional activities internationally
Course Contents
- Intro to Comparative Politics and Comparative Research MethodsComparative Politics. Comparative Method. Research design. Research question and answer. Variables and hypotheses in comparative politics. Old institutionalism. Behavioral revolution. Systemic approach. Rational choice approach. (Neo)institutionalisms. Problems of comparison.
- Approaches in Comparative PoliticsFive alternative approaches in comparative politics. Institutions, ideas, international environment, interests
- Political RegimesPolitical regimes. Typologies and classification. Scalar vs sortal approaches. Hybrid regimes. Democracies and non-democracies.
- DemocraciesDemocracy. R. Dahl. J. Schumpeter. Substantive and procedural definitions. Polyarchy. Common good.
- AutocraciesClassic and modern definitions of autocracies. Totalitarianism and authoritarianism. Electoral and competitive authoritarianism. Personalist, one-party and military regimes. Hybrid regimes.
- Regime changeRegimes change. Democratization and democratic transitions. Types of transitions. Waes of democratization. Diffusion and bandwagon effects.
- LegislaturesAssemblies, parliaments, congresses. Committees. Legislative process. Legislative oversight. Filibustering and logrolling. Parliamentary autonomy.
- Government and BureaucraciesRational bureaucracy. New Public Management. Principal-agent problems. Policy implementation. Models of public service (civil service).
- Institutional DesignsParliamentarism. Presidentialism. Mixed designs (president-parliamentary and premier-presidential systems). Perils of presidentialism. Presidential power and separate survival.
- Elections and ReferendumsElections as instruments of democracy. Plebiscites and referendums. Direct and indirect participation in politics. Direct democracy vs representative democracy. Variety of democracies. Majoritarian democracies. Consensus democracies. Westminster democracies. Accountability and representation. Responsiveness and responsibility.
- Electoral SystemsElectoral formulae. Thresholds. District magnitude. Families of electoral systems. Plurality systems. Proportional systems. Mixed systems. Preferential vote. Quota and divisors‟ methods.
- Political PartiesPolitical parties. Functions of political parties. Types of parties. Maurice Duverger. Cadre and mass parties. Catchall parties. Cartel parties.
- Party SystemsParty systems classification. Duverger‟s laws. Giovanni Satrtori. Effective number of parties. Fractionalization. Volatility.
- Political Culture and ValuesPolitical culture. Civic culture. Critical citizens. Paradox of voting. Traditional, modern and emancipative values. Modernization and post-modernization.
- Political Participation: Voting and ProtestsPolitical participation. Conventional and unconventional participations. Institutionalized and direct participation. Models of voting behavior. Theories of protest. Critical mass theory. Absolute and relative deprivation. Tipping-point models. Political opportunity structure.
Assessment Elements
- Class Activities (inclass participation and mini-quizzes)During the seminars – discussion groups of the assigned literature, lecturers take notes on the activities of each student, quantity and quality of his / her answers, an overall contribution to the discussion.
- TestsTests may contain up to 10 questions to be answered in 15 minutes. The questions can be done in several forms: multiple choice, matching, true or false, selection and ranging, fill in the gaps, open questions (fill in the table, write a definition, draw a scheme). The questions are based on the course materials (lecture and mandatory readings) for each topic.
- Final Oral ExaminationThe final examination covers the materials from lectures and mandatory readings of all the course content.
Interim Assessment
- Interim assessment (2 module)The final grade (Gf ) is calculated as an average based on the following equation: Gfinal = 0.4*Gex + 0.6*Gcum, where Gex - grade for the final exam (oral exam) forms 40% of the final grade is based on brief oral presentation of two exam questions. Gcum -cumulative grade is based on participation in the classroom discussions The cumulative grade is calculated as follows: Gcum = 0.6*Gs + 0.4*Gt Gs – grade for the activities in the classroom (seminars) Gt - grade for home work tests and quizzes
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Autocratic Breakdown and Regime Transitions: A New Data Set. (2014). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.5EE19EF9
- Comparative politics / ed. by Daniele Caramani. (2011). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.330675516
- Evans, P., & Rauch, J. E. (1999). Bureaucracy and Growth: A Cross-National Analysis of the Effects of “Weberian” State Structures on Economic Growth. American Sociological Review, 64(5), 748–765. https://doi.org/10.2307/2657374
- Geddes, B. (1999). What Do We Know about Democratization After Twenty Years? Annual Review of Political Science, 2(1), 115. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.2.1.115
- Jennifer Gandhi, & Adam Przeworski. (2007). Authoritarian Institutions and the Survival of Autocrats. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.FE0C6FB1
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- HERNÁNDEZ, E., & KRIESI, H. (2016). The electoral consequences of the financial and economic crisis in Europe. European Journal of Political Research, 55(2), 203–224. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12122
- Lijphart, A. (1971). Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method. American Political Science Review, (03), 682. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.apsrev.v65y1971i03p682.693.13
- Marc Morjé Howard, & Philip G. Roessler. (2006). Liberalizing Electoral Outcomes in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes. American Journal of Political Science, (2), 365. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00189.x
- Sartori, G., & European Consortium for Political Research. (2005). Parties and Party Systems : A Framework for Analysis. Colchester: ECPR Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1360080
- SIAROFF, A. (2003). Comparative presidencies: The inadequacy of the presidential, semi-presidential and parliamentary distinction. European Journal of Political Research, 42(3), 287–312. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.00084
- Welzel, C., & Deutsch, F. (2012). Emancipative Values and Non-Violent Protest: The Importance of ‘Ecological’ Effects. British Journal of Political Science, (02), 465. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.bjposi.v42y2012i02p465.479.00
- Ziblatt, D. (2009). Shaping Democratic Practice and the Causes of Electoral Fraud: The Case of Nineteenth-Century Germany. American Political Science Review, (01), 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.apsrev.v103y2009i01p1.21.09