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Course, academic year 2023/2024
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European Comparative Politics and Society - JTM041
Title: European Comparative Politics and Society
Czech title: Evropská komparativní politika a společnost
Guaranteed by: Department of European Studies (23-KZS)
Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
Actual: from 2023
Semester: both
E-Credits: 6
Hours per week, examination: 1/1, Ex [HT]
Capacity: winter:unknown / 60 (30)
summer:unknown / unknown (30)
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
you can enroll for the course in winter and in summer semester
Guarantor: prof. PhDr. Lenka Rovná, CSc.
Teacher(s): prof. PhDr. Lenka Rovná, CSc.
Class: Courses for incoming students
Annotation -
Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (19.02.2024)
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 interest’s 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 Europe, which have in the last 30 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.


NB Opening class on 20 February 2024 takes place online:

https://cesnet.zoom.us/j/94436220707

Aim of the course -
Last update: Mgr. Jakub Šindelář (02.02.2024)

Students will get insight into the new challenges facing Europe, such as the war in Ukraine, energetic crisis, pandemic crisis, populism, immigration, (de)globalization, financial crisis, continuing European (dis)integration, regionalization, restructuring of social welfare systems and the issues of identity, will be discussed. The focus of the class will be the preparation of the European Parliamentary elections in June 2024 during “Parliamentary Debates”.

Course completion requirements
Last update: Mgr. Jakub Šindelář (02.02.2024)

Grading is based on the Dean's Measure Directive SO 002 17/2023.

https://fsv.cuni.cz/sites/default/files/uploads/files/S_SO_002_001_Organization_of_examination_dates%2C_assessment_of_study%2C_and_the_use_of_A%E2%80%93F_grading_scale_at_FSV_UK_2.pdf

  • 91 % and up => A
  • 81-90 % => B
  • 71-80 % => C
  • 61-70 % => D
  • 51-60 % => E
  • 0-50 % => F

More in DIRECTIVE S_SO_002 Organization of examination dates, assessment of study, and the use of A–F grading scale at FSV UK

Literature -
Last update: Mgr. Jakub Šindelář (02.02.2024)

Please see the syllabus; further reading will be suggested during the classes.

Teaching methods -
Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (19.02.2024)

In Spring term 2023/24 the course is taught in person.  Classes combine lectures, presentations, discussions and group work on assignments.


Before the first class please enroll in the Moodle using the following link: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=13405

Materials are placed in Moodle.

Students are working in assigned groups.

NB Opening class on 20 February 2024 takes place online:

https://cesnet.zoom.us/j/94436220707

Requirements to the exam -
Last update: Mgr. Jakub Šindelář (02.02.2024)

Every student will be responsible for:

 1) Class Participation and Oral Presentations

Each student will prepare for class by doing the designated readings, the designated oral presentations during the course and actively participating in the work of designated working group (presentations on the lecture topics and debates on the topic of the working group) and the class or outside class discussions. During “Parliamentary Debates” students discuss different aspects of the elections to the EP in June 2024. Understanding of the topic, creating, and defending the position will be assessed.

Two unexcused absences can be tolerated.

  

2) Paper (June 2)

Each student will write an 8-page (double-spaced) research paper. Current and future cleavages in the European elections in 2024Each student will write a paper based on readings on the preparations of European elections from the point of view of selected actors (political parties, governments of the member states, NGOs etc.)

Detailed instructions will be debated during the class.

Quotations and the complete list of sources are compulsory. The paper will be sent electronically via Moodle.

   

Requirements for the class:

Paper (8 pages)                                                           30%

Oral presentations                                                       35%                            

Active participation in the class and on Moodle               35%

Syllabus -
Last update: Mgr. Jan Váška, Ph.D. (19.02.2024)

 February 20

NB Opening class on 20 February 2024 takes place online:

https://cesnet.zoom.us/j/94436220707

Introduction

The work methods

Identification of the problems studied in the groups, division into groups and preparation for online oral presentations and position papers.

Europe: perception of Europe, European values, a continent in the making, in: Tim Bale, European Politics, A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005, pp. 1 – 31

 

February 27

The nation state and Democracy in Europe

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2020, pp. 69 – 102

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp. 19 - 31

 

March 5

Cleavages in Europe, religious, ethnic, economic, social and ?…, in: Jan Eric Lane and Svante Ersson, Politics and Society in Western Europe, Sage Publication, London, 1999, pp. 37 – 75

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 231 - 251

 

March 12

Political Parties, history, typology, and specifics in Europe, in: Jan Eric Lane and Svante Ersson, Politics and Society in Western Europe, Sage Publication, London, 1999, pp. 76 – 108

Inside European Political partieshow are political parties functioning? Are they still relevant? 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

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 211 – 230

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp. 132 - 154

 

March 19

Elections and Electoral systemsCurrent elections, Formation of the Parliament, 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

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 178 - 192

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp. 89 – 111

 

 

March 26

Building and maintaining the government + case studies, 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

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 141 - 158

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp. 171 - 191

 

April 2

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

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 252 - 266

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp. 203 - 205

 

April 9

European Integration and the member states, 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

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 419 - 438

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp.

           

April 16

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

Multilevel Governance

 

April 23

Territorial Politics and the New Regionalism + case studies, in: Edited by Paul Heywood, Erik Jones and Martin Rhodes, Developments in West European Politics 2, Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2002, pp. 201 – 220.

Daniel Caramani, Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020, pp. 267 – 280, 193 - 210

Catherine E.de Vries, Sara B. Hobolt, Sven-Olivier Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin, Foundation of European Politics, A Comparative Approach, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021, pp. 32 - 51

 

April 4

 

May 5

“Parliamentary debates”

Structured debates about the main topics and cleavages at the European Parliament elections in June 2024

 
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