- Being able to explain the historical evolution of political parties, its types and their relations with each democratic model, as well as knowing and being able to analyze the organizational structure of the political parties, as well as their interaction with society. - Being able to analyze the different functions political parties perform, both regarding institutions and society, as well as to differentiate among different types of party systems. - Knowing and being able to analyze the main characteristics and elements of pressure groups and (new) social movements, as well as between the main political collective actors regarding their main elements and characteristics. - Being able to explain the main theories of political culture, its factors and consequences, as well as the cultural change under the theory of human development. Being able to analyze political culture patterns, its factors and consequences. - Knowing and being able to analyze patterns, relevant variables and consequences of political participation and political behavior, differentiating the relevant analytical approaches and theories, as well as the different kinds and patterns of political participation.

- Unit 1. Political parties: definitions and historical evolution. Party models and democracy; from cadre to cartel and movement-parties. The organization and structure of political parties: ideology, members, resources and faces of parties; dominant coalition and territorial structure. The finances of political parties. - Unit 2. Political parties (2): The functions of political parties regarding institutions and society. Democracy in political parties: the making of political platforms and the selection of party officials and electoral candidates. - Unit 3. Party systems: definition and typologies. Stability and change. Parties and party systems in democratic Spain. - Unit 4. Other political collective actors: Pressure groups: traits, organization and activity patterns. The (new) social movements: evolution, traits, movilization patterns and interaction with the political system. New social movements and social networks. - Unit 5. Political culture and Civic Culture. Variables, patterns and trends of change and stability. Cultural change: industrialization, postindustrializtion and human development. - Unit 6. Political culture in Spain: Variables, traits and trends of change. - Unit 7. Political participation and political behavior: Approaches and theoretical models. Political movilization and its factors. - Unit 8. Political behavior. Factors and variables. From cleavage politics to issue politics. Political participation and political behavior in Spain.

In lecture sessions the teacher will explain the main foundations of each unit. Some resources could be recomended to complete the explanation of each unit. Work in seminar sessions will deal with comparing and analyzing cases suggested by the lecturer. Some sessions will be developped in the computing laboratories. The lecturer will suggest the resources and references to be used by the students prior to each seminar session. Those resources will be written both in Spanish and English.