Syllabus
European Comparative Politics and Society (ESA)
Fall 2012
Lecturer: Prof.PhDr.Lenka Rovná,CSc.,
Jean Monnet Chair Ad Personam rovna@fsv.cuni.cz
Office hours: Mondays 13,00 - 14,00 Rytířská 31, Praha 1
Every student will be responsible for: 1) Class Participation
Each student will prepare for class by doing the designated readings, designated oral presentations and actively participating in class discussions. Two unexcused absences can be tolerated. 2) Paper (December 7)
Each student will write an 8page (double-spaced) research paper. "Right of Left, Who is Best?"
Each student will select one parliamentary political party belonging to the "right" or "left" side of political spectrum in one European country according to the assignment done in the class. The program of the party will be examined and the question dealing with the recent developments in European politics will be done. Detailed instructions will be given during the class.
Quotations and the complete list of sources are compulsory. 4) Final exam
The final exam will be cumulative and will consist of short answer identification questions and essay questions.
Requirements for the class:
Paper (8 pages) 30%
Final exam 30%
Participation in the class 40%
Lesson 1 Oct 2 Introduction
Europe: a continent in the making, in: Tim Bale, European Politics, A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005, pp. 1 - 31
Lesson 2 Oct 16 Cleavages in Western Europe, religious, ethnic, economic, social…, in: Jan Eric Lane and Svante Ersson, Politics and Society in Western Europe, Sage Publication, London, 1999, pp. 37 - 75
Lesson 3 Oct 23 Political Parties, in: Jan Eric Lane and Svante Ersson, Politics and Society in Western Europe, Sage Publication, London, 1999, pp. 76 - 108
Inside Western European Political parties, in:Michael Gallagher, Michael Laver, Peter Mair, Representative Government in Modern Europe, Institutions, parties and Governments, Boston, McGraw Hill, 4th edition, 2005, pp. 307-339
Lesson 4 Oct 30 Elections and Electoral systems, in:Michael Gallagher, Michael Laver, Peter Mair, Representative Government in Modern Europe, Institutions, parties and Governments, Boston, McGraw Hill, 4th edition, 2005, pp. 340-380 in: Edited by Paul Heywood, Erik Jones and Martin Rhodes, Developments in West European Politics 2, Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2002, pp. 94 - 114
Lesson 5 Nov 6 Building and Maintaining the government, in:Michael Gallagher, Michael Laver, Peter Mair, Representative Government in Modern Europe, Institutions, parties and Governments, Boston, McGraw Hill, 4th edition, 2005, pp. 381-421 in: Gabriel A.Almond, Russel J.Dalton, G.Bingham Powell, Jr., Kaare Strom, European Politics Today, Pearson Longman, New York, 3rd edition, 2006, pp.62 - 83
Politics outside Parliament, in:Michael Gallagher, Michael Laver, Peter Mair, Representative Government in Modern Europe, Institutions, parties and Governments, Boston, McGraw Hill, 4th edition, 2005, pp. 441-461
Lesson 6 Nov 13 From Government to governance, in: Edited by Paul Heywood, Erik Jones and Martin Rhodes, Developments in West European Politics 2, Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2002, pp. 151 - 183
Territorial Politics and the New Regionalism, in: Edited by Paul Heywood, Erik Jones and Martin Rhodes, Developments in West European Politics 2, Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2002, pp. 201 - 220
Lesson 7 Nov 20 European Integration and the nation state, in:Simon Bulmer and Christian Lequesne, The Member States of the European Union, Oxford University Press, 2005, pp. 25-69
Politics in the European Union from the member state point of view, in: Gabriel A.Almond, Russel J.Dalton, G.Bingham Powell, Jr., Kaare Strom, European Politics Today, Pearson Longman, New York, 3rd edition, 2006, pp.457 - 509
Lesson 8 Nov 27 Political System of Great Britain, Britain and Europe, in: Gabriel A.Almond, Russel J.Dalton, G.Bingham Powell, Jr., Kaare Strom, European Politics Today, Pearson Longman, New York, 3rd edition, 2006, pp.84 - 133
Lesson 9 Dec 4 Political System of France, in: Gabriel A.Almond, Russel J.Dalton, G.Bingham Powell, Jr., Kaare Strom, European Politics Today, Pearson Longman, New York, 3rd edition, 2006, pp. 134 - 189
Lesson 10 Dec 11 Political System of Germany, in: Gabriel A.Almond, Russel J.Dalton, G.Bingham Powell, Jr., Kaare Strom, European Politics Today, Pearson Longman, New York, 3rd edition, 2006, pp.190 - 245
Lesson 11 Dec 18 Political System of the Czech Republic in comparative perspective, East or West? Home is best., in: Readings will be given by the instructor
Annotation
The course European Comparative Politics and Society will concentrate on the analysis of the pursuits of democracy in Europe. Firstly, the conception of Europe will be explored in its historical perspective and different perceptions: territorial, political, spiritual, cultural etc.
Secondly, the characterizing social cleavages of Europe will be introduced: territorial, economic, religious, national, ethnic etc. Furthermore, we will discuss how these cleavages get expressed in the formation of different social interests and lead to the organization of interests groups, political parties and NGOs and the contemporary challenges.
Thirdly, turning towards the institutional structures of European parliamentary democracies, we will address the existence of political party systems, as well as the executive and legislative powers represented by government and parliament. Fourthly, we will explore the rules and outcomes of different electoral systems, which ensure regular rotation of political elites at power – however, under different principles.
Finally, we will assess the enrichment of the classical models of government in Western Europe, which have in the last 20 years been supplemented by additional players participating in the decision making processes on different levels (local, regional, national and European) – leading to new political conceptualization of ‘governance’. Also, while European states remain core units of European integration, the EU leading to their Europeanization also influences them.
The new challenges facing Europe, such as populism, immigration, globalization, financial crisis, continuing European integration, regionalization, restructuring of social welfare systems and the issues of identity, will be discussed.