Checking date: 12/06/2018


Course: 2018/2019

Foundations of Politics
(12864)
International Foundation Program in Social Sciences and Humanities (Plan: 367 - Estudio: 84)


Coordinating teacher: LORENZO RODRIGUEZ, JAVIER

Department assigned to the subject:

Type: Compulsory
ECTS Credits: 3.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
- To understand a basic set of concepts and analytical categories in the field of Political Science - To become familiar with political reality from a scientific perspective - To know the different state models and contemporary state institutions and structures
Description of contents: programme
Unit 1. Politics: Setting the Stage - What is politics? - What is it that makes an act political? - Politics as Making Common Decisions - Politics as the exercise of power - Power and Choice - Politics, policy, polity - Political Science Unit 2. The State and Modern Policy - The Modern State - Policies of the State - Economic Policy - Justice and Effectiveness of public policies Unit 3. The Citizens and the Regime - Democracies and non-Democracies - The coming and going of Democracy - Democracy and Freedom - Democracy and Capitalism - Authoritarian Systems - Military Governments - One-party States - Monarchies and Theocracies Unit 4. Political Culture and Political Behaviour - Analysing Political Cultures - Religion and Political Culture - Political Socialization - Media as Agents of Political Socialization - Social Media and Political Socialization Unit 5. Political Institutions - Government - Parliaments - Political parties - Elections - Interest Groups and Politics - Social Movements Unit 6. Globalisation and International Politics - State-Nation sovereignty - International Institutions - The European Union - UN, NATO, WB, IMF, G-8 - Globalization Unit 7. Principles of Political Analysis - Falsifiability - What makes a statement interesting? - Causation and Explanation - Historical explanation - Empirical analysis
Learning activities and methodology
- Class participation: Each student is expected to attend class, and significantly contribute to the seminar discussion each week. Participation in class discussion (oral or written) is an essential part of the class. - - News Workshop: Each week, a group of students (3-5 members), will present a news report related to the topics explained during the theoretical sessions. This report will consist in a short written report and a 15 min presentation during seminar sessions. For this purpose the report should be argumentative (make a point) and should answer the following questions: - - Brief summary of the news - Why do you think is the news related to the topic - What is the main subject of the highlight - Who is involved in the issue - Identify and define main political actors - Principal actors¿ statements/positions - 2-3 final conclusions - Sources used - Prepare one question to be discussed by his/her classmates in class.
Basic Bibliography
  • Clark, W. R., Golder, M., & Golder, S. N. . Principles of comparative politics. CQ Press. 2012
  • Donovan, John., Morgan, R., Potholm, C., Weigle, M . People, Power & Politics: An Introduction to Political Science. (Third Ed). Auflage: Littlefield Adams Quaterly Paperback.. 1993
  • Shively, W. . Power & Choice: An Introduction to Political Science. McGraw-Hill. 13th Ed.. 2012

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.