Бакалавриат
2022/2023
Политика и общество в европейских странах
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Политология и мировая политика)
Направление:
41.03.04. Политология
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа социальных наук
Когда читается:
3-й курс, 1, 2 модуль
Формат изучения:
без онлайн-курса
Охват аудитории:
для своего кампуса
Преподаватели:
Гал Андраш
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
4
Контактные часы:
32
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
- To familiarize students with the political life of European countries
- To closely scrutinize concepts from comparative politics that are overrepresented in the European continent
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Able to conduct professional activities internationally
- Can pose research problems relevant to the study of political phenomena and political processes; set particular research tasks; and put together a research design
- Chooses research methods appropriate for resolving the professional tasks.
- Can retrieve, collect, process and analyze information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field.
Course Contents
- A brief political history of Europe after 1945.
- Majoritarian democracies: Great Britain and France.
- Fragmented 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).
- 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.
- Position paper
- Group presentation
- Preparation for short test 1
- Preparation for short test 2
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.
- Group presentationRecommendations for the presentation: Content-wise the same requirement apply as in the case of individual position papers. In the oral presentation, students are similarly encouraged to present an argument for the class, but in addition: - Students can explicate your idea more thoroughly if your time allows so - Students can provide more background information/empirics - Students should prepare questions and discussion points In their presentation, students should be attentive towards the following elements: - The power point presentation or handout should complement the presentation, therefore should not include its content 100% - Slides should not be overloaded with information - Visual tools should be preferred over text; when text is used, keywords should be preferred over sentences - Presentations should not be read out; it is not engaging for the audience and problematic for the instructor (as it implies worrisome questions about the even participation of everyone).
- Class participationRecommendations 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.
- Final exam
Interim Assessment
- 2022/2023 2nd module0.4 * Final exam + 0.1 * Class participation + 0.3 * Position paper + 0.2 * Group presentation
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- 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
Recommended Additional 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 Comparative Politics. Edited by Carles Boix and Susan C. Stokes. Oxford University Press, 2009.