Lecture title: Introduction to Comparative Presidential Studies

Tutor: Dr Philipp Köker, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Time period: 18-29 March 2019

Lecture summary:

The role of presidents differs strongly between regimes. Popularly elected and powerful presidents, such as the presidents of the United States, Russia or France often dominate public perception and scholarship alike. Yet are these presidents actually more powerful or important than others? And are ostensibly weak (and indirectly elected) presidents mere ‘figureheads’ without political significance?

This series of lectures analyses the role, power and activities of presidents in contemporary regimes from a comparative perspective. Following an introduction into the theoretical approaches methodological challenges of comparative presidential studies, lectures deal with different approaches to presidents as part of definitions of regime types (particularly semi-presidentialism) as well as the extent, measurement and consequences of presidential power. Further, lectures discuss different types of presidential elections and their effect on presidents and party systems as well as presidents’ role in the legislative process (focussing on veto power) and government formations. Last, the series explores the role of presidents in authoritarian regimes and the potential for comparing presidents with monarchs, chief executives, and party leaders.

Course structure:

8 lectures (2 teaching hours each) over two weeks

Comparing presidents: Theoretical and methodological challenges
Presidents and definition of regime types
Presidential Power: Concepts, measures, methods
Presidential elections and their consequences
Presidents and the legislative process
Presidents in government formation
Presidents, democracy and autocracy
Comparing presidents with other actors

Reading list:

Åberg, Jenny, and Sedelius, Thomas (2018). A Structured Review of Semi-Presidential Studies: Debates, Results and Missing Pieces. British Journal of Political Science. Online First. DOI: 10.1017/S0007123418000017

Elgie, Robert, and Passarelli, Gianlucca (2018). Presidentialisation: One Term, Two Uses – Between Deductive Exercise and Grand Historical Narrative. Political Studies Review. Online First. DOI: 10.1177/1478929918754500

Fortin, Jessica (2013). Measuring presidential powers: Some pitfalls of aggregate measurement. International Political Science Review, 34(1), 91-112.

Fruhstorfer, Anna (2016). Recent debates and advances in the scholarly examination of presidential institutions. French Politics, 14(2), 254-271.

Hicken, Allen, and Stoll, Heather (2011). Presidents and parties: How presidential elections shape coordination in legislative elections. Comparative Political Studies, 44(7), 854-883.

Köker, Philipp (2017). Presidential Activism and Veto Power in Central and Eastern Europe. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

Mainwaring, Scott, and Shugart, Matthew S. (1997). Juan Linz, presidentialism, and democracy: a critical appraisal. Comparative Politics, 29(4), 449-471.