Local Politics in the EU - JPB281

• Title: Local Politics in the EU
• Guaranteed by: Department of Political Science (23-KP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2020
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 25 / unknown (55)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English, Czech
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: PhDr. Petr Jüptner, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Jakub Čapek; PhDr. Petr Jüptner, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

The course introduces politics at the local level in the EU countries. It focuses on the importance of local self-government, its role in providing services, the development of local government institutions and models, and municipal reforms.
After the introductory session, the classes dedicated to individual countries and the specifics of their municipal structure will follow.
Some sessions will be held by visiting professors Tomáš Černěnko (University of Economics Bratislava), Daniel Klimovský (Comenius University Bratislava), Catalin Vrabie (National School of Political and Administrative Studies Bucharest), and David Gehne (Universität Bochum).
The class is taught in English.

Last update: Jüptner Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (05.03.2025)

Aim of the course

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the comparative analysis of European local government and its institutions. 

Last update: Jüptner Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (21.02.2024)

Course completion requirements

Final test (50%)

multiple choice 

based on lectures and literature

 

Essay (50%)

Problem/issue (related to local governance in the EU country) you find interesting and its reflection in the literature (issue + context + lit review)

5 pages/1200 words

Deadline 1 – April 27 – feedback + possibility rewrite the essay, then the final grade 
Deadline 2 – June 15 – feedback, final grade 
Submission via Moodle

The consultation of preliminary versions is highly recommended.

91 % +       =>          A

81-90 %      =>          B

71-80 %      =>          C

61-70 %       =>         D

51-60 %      =>          E

0-50 %        =>          F

Last update: Jüptner Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (19.02.2025)

Literature

For details (most relevant books, recommended chapters etc.) check Moodle.

Bäck, H.; Heinelt, H.; Magnier, A. (eds.).(2006): The European Mayor. Political Leaders in the Changing Context of Local Democracy. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.
Baldersheim, H., Rose, L.E. (ed.). (2010): Territorial Choice. The Politics of Boundaries and Borders. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
John, P. (2001): Local Governance in Western Europe. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
Kersting, N.; Vetter, A. (eds.). (2003): Reforming Local Government in Europe. Opladen: Leske + Budrich.
Lankina, T.V.; Hudalla, A.; Wollmann, H. (2008): Local governance in Central and Eastern Europe: comparing performance in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Russia. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Massey, A. (ed.). (2015): The International Handbook of Public Administration and Governance. London: Elgar.
Panara, C.; Varney, M. (2015): Local Government in Europe. London: Routledge.
Swianewicz, P. (2013): An Empirical Typology of Local Government Systems in Eastern Europe". Local Government Studies, 39 (4): 1-20.
Swianewicz, P. (ed.). (2002): Consolidation or Fragmentation? The Size of Local Governments in Central and Eastern Europe. Budapest: Open Society Institute.
Swianewicz, P. (ed.) (2010): Territorial Consolidation Reforms in Europa. Budapest: Open Society Institute – LGI.

Last update: Jüptner Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (19.02.2025)

Teaching methods

All materials will be uploaded to Moodle after each lecture:

https://dl1.cuni.cz/user/view.php?id=113529922&course=7537

Last update: Jüptner Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (19.02.2025)

Syllabus

The content of lectures may vary according to the schedule of visiting professors. All changes will be announced. 

1+2) Local Politics in Slovakia (Tomáš Černěnko)

3+4) Local politics in Slovenia and Belgium (Daniel Klimovský)

5+6) Introduction to Local Politics + Local Government in the Czech Republic (Petr Jüptner)

7+8) Incumbency advantage in local politics (Jakub Čapek)

9+10) Local politics in Romania (Catalin Vrabie) + Local Government in Switzerland (Petr Jüptner)

11+12) Local politics in Germany (David Gehne) 

 

Last update: Jüptner Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (19.02.2025)