Introduction to Government and Politics - JTB113

• Title: Introduction to Government and Politics
• Czech title: Úvod do státu a politiky
• Guaranteed by: Department of European Studies (23-KZS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:combined
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 6 / unknown (10)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: PhDr. Martin Mejstřík
• Teacher(s): PhDr. Martin Mejstřík
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• In complex pre-requisite: JTB114, JTB115, JTB116, JTB117, JTB118, JTB119, JTB120, JTB121, JTB132, JTB133

Annotation

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (13.02.2024)

‘The course offers an introduction to basic ideas and concepts in the theory of politics illustrated on the phenomena in the European context. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be familiar with issues incl. definition of the politics and its development, the functioning of the state, the theory, and practice of democratic and non-democratic political systems, the theory and practice of political parties, the definition of main ideological currents that determine the contemporary politics, etc.

Aim of the course

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (13.02.2024)

The aim of this course is to familiarize students with basic concepts and theories of politics and to teach them to use these concepts in practice, especially in the context of Europe. 

Course completion requirements

Last update: PhDr. Martin Mejstřík (12.02.2024)

1. In-class activity 10%

The students will be required to read mandatory texts for each class, except for the introductory one. You are allowed a maximum of two (un)certified absences.

 2. Reflection essay 30%

Students will upload to Turnitin ((https://library.cuni.cz/services/turnitin/) a short reflection essay (4500 characters/900 words) discussing one of the articles from the mandatory reading by May 5, 2024 (midnight). Late submissions of one day are sanctioned with -1 point and each day of delay is sanctioned with -3 points for each day of delay. To pass the course, you should get at least 50%.

The reflection essay should present the main argument of the chosen article, weak and strong points, and your reflection upon ideas presented articles.

3. Take Home Essay 60 %

This is a paper of 2000 words, in which you are asked to discuss issues raised by lectures and readings. The topic will be handed out on May 7, 2024, via email to [e-mail] and the paper is due on May 31, 2024 (Midnight). Your essay has to be submitted to the Turnitin system (https://library.cuni.cz/services/turnitin/). Late paper submissions of one day are sanctioned with -1 point and each day of delay is sanctioned with -3 points for each day of delay. To pass the course, you should get at least 50%.

Your essay will be evaluated based on the following criteria: An essay question asks you to combine information drawn from several different sources and arrange that information, you will be constructing an argument to answer the question. Demonstrate your independent reading as well as reading of the class materials.

Turnitin (https://library.cuni.cz/services/turnitin/)

Course ID: 38583623

Password: IntroGandP

More in SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

Literature

Last update: PhDr. Martin Mejstřík (12.02.2024)

NOTE: All texts available in this syllabus are for use in this course only. They are protected by the copyright and must not be further distributed.

All documents are available through the UKAZ database (once you are log in with your CAS details). If not, there are part of the syllabus and you might download it in SIS but only for the purpose of this course and cannot be distributed further. 

Mandatory reading:

Barker, R. (1990) „Political Legitimacy.“ In Barker, R., Political Legitimacy and the State (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 20-44.

Cheibub, J.A. et al. (2010). „Democracy and Dictatorship Revisited.“ Public Choice 143 (1-2): 67-101.

Kriesi, H. (2010). Restructuration of Partisan Politics and the Emergence of a New Cleavage Based on Values, West European Politics, 33(3), 673-685.

Liu, C. (2016) „Public Corruption: Causes, Consequences, and Cures.“ In Klassen, T.R. et al. (eds) The Routledge Handbook of Global Public Policy and Administration (Abingdon and New York: Taylor & Francis Group), 134-146.- reading online only through UKAZ database.

March, L., Radical Left Success before and after Great Recession (2016). In March, L. and D. Keith, Europe´s Radical Left: From Marginality to Mainstream? (London: Rowman), 27-50.

Mudde, C. (2004). „The Populist Zeitgeist”. Government and Opposition 39(4), 542-563.

Perl, A. (2020). „Studying policy dynamics: policy cycles and regimes.“ In Capano, G. and Howlett, M. (eds) A Modern Guide to Public Policy (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited), 22-40.

Rochefort, D. and Cobb, R. (1994). Problem Definition: An Emerging Perspective. In  Cobb, R. and Rochefort, D., The Politics of Problem Definition: Shaping the Policy Agenda (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas), 1-31.

Shirah, R. (2016). „Electoral Authoritarianism and Political Unrest“, International Political Science Review 37(4), 470-484.

Further reading:

Capano, G. and Howlett, M. (2020). A Modern Guide to Public Policy. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. (Available online: https://www.elgaronline.com/display/edcoll/9781789904970/9781789904970.xml)

Hague, R. et al. (2019). Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction. Macmillan International, Red Globe Press. 

Teaching methods

Last update: PhDr. Martin Mejstřík (12.02.2024)

The course is lecture-oriented with interactive aspects, i.e., discussing reading with students.

 

Requirements to the exam

Last update: Mgr. Eliška Ullrichová, Ph.D. (08.02.2023)

The requirements of the class consist of: (1) in-class activity (10 points); (2) a reflection essay (30 points); and (3) a take-home essay (60 points). To pass the course, a student has to receive at least 50 % of each requirement. 

Grading from the total result is determined as follows:

91 and more = A

81–90 % = B

71–80 % = C

61–70 % = D

51–60 % = E

0–50 % = F

Syllabus

Last update: PhDr. Martin Mejstřík (21.02.2024)

27. 2. Class n°1: Introduction of essential concepts: government, governance, politics, policy

No reading

5. 3. Class n°2: Types of regimes

Reading: Cheibub, J.A. et al. (2010). „Democracy and Dictatorship Revisited.“ Public Choice 143 (1-2): 67-101.

12. 3. Class n°3: State and legitimacy

Reading: Barker, R. (1990) „Political Legitimacy.“ In Barker, R., Political Legitimacy and the State (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 20-44.

19. 3. Class n°4: Political parties and their role in non-democratic regimes 

Reading: Shirah, R. (2016). „Electoral Authoritarianism and Political Unrest“, International Political Science Review 37(4), 470-484.

26. 3. Class n°5: Is democracy under the threat? The rise of populism

Reading: Mudde, C. (2004). „The Populist Zeitgeist”. Government and Opposition 39(4), 542-563.

2. 4. Class n°6: Policy problems

Reading: Rochefort, D. and Cobb, R. (1994). Problem Definition: An Emerging Perspective. In  Cobb, R. and Rochefort, D., The Politics of Problem Definition: Shaping the Policy Agenda (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas), 1-31.

9. 4. Class n°7: Policy-making: How to make a policy and what´s next?

Reading: Perl, A. (2020). „Studying policy dynamics: policy cycles and regimes.“ In Capano, G. and Howlett, M. (eds) A Modern Guide to Public Policy (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited), 22-40.

16. 4. Class n°8: Corruption in politics

Reading: Liu, C. (2016) „Public Corruption: Causes, Consequences, and Cures.“ In Klassen, T.R. et al. (eds) The Routledge Handbook of Global Public Policy and Administration (Abingdon and New York: Taylor & Francis Group), 134-146.- reading online only through UKAZ database.

23. 4. no class

30. 4. Class n°9: Left- and right-wing politics and/or other cleavages

Reading: Kriesi, H. (2010). Restructuration of Partisan Politics and the Emergence of a New Cleavage Based on Values, West European Politics, 33(3), 673-685.

7. 5. Class n°10: European Left: what happened after the end of the welfare state?

Reading: March, L., Radical Left Success before and after Great Recession (2016). In March, L. and D. Keith, Europe´s Radical Left: From Marginality to Mainstream? (London: Rowman), 27-50.

14. 5. Class n°11 - Political parties and their role in non-democratic regimes 

         Reading: Shirah, R. (2016). „Electoral Authoritarianism and Political Unrest“, International Political Science Review 37(4), 470-484.