Checking date: 20/04/2023


Course: 2023/2024

Comparative Politics
(16614)
Dual Bachelor in International Studies and Political Science (Plan: 506 - Estudio: 320)


Coordinating teacher: RIERA SAGRERA, PEDRO

Department assigned to the subject: Social Sciences Department

Type: Compulsory
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
None.
Objectives
Skills related to the development of analytical and critical thinking. Communication skills and writing skills in carrying out work, case studies and exams. Public speaking and presentation skills. Interpersonal skills such as the ability to work in teams or use of the technique of role play. Knowledge of the methods, theories and some substantive issues in the comparison of political systems. Ability to link theoretical issues of comparative politics to evidence.
Skills and learning outcomes
Description of contents: programme
1. Introduction - What is comparative politics? - The substance of comparative politics - The method of comparative politics - Evolution of comparative politics 2.Economic development and political regimes - Introduction - The Problem - The seminal study of Lipset: criticisms and new approaches - Quantitative and qualitative comparisons - Final remarks 3. Democratization - Democracies and non-democracies - Transitions to democracy - Democratic consolidation? - The conditions for democracy - Revisiting theories of democratization 4. Institutional design and democratic performance - Introduction - Debates on institutional design: government systems, party systems and electoral systems - The quality of democracy
Learning activities and methodology
Lectures given by the teacher and activities done by students who will apply the knowledge acquired and develop their skills. The training activities aim to involve students in the learning process. To this end, the teacher will provide basic knowledge and tools needed to strengthen their analytical ability and encourage their critical spirit. In this regard, the reading of selected materials and essays written by students will be fundamental. Likewise, the professor will encourage discussions on current topics, presentations and role play so that students expand their communication and interpersonal skills. This will be complemented by screenings of documentaries / films relating to any matter relevant to the subject. This latter is intended to capture students' interest on issues that sometimes may seem too abstract, without a clear empirical referent. 6 ECTS credits, 150 hours approximately. Lectures and other activities in class: 42 hours. Study of the subject by students: 56 hours. Preparation of presentations and essays by students: 42 hours. Make-up classes, office hours, hand-in of papers, etc.: 8 hours. Exam: 2 hours.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 50
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 50
Calendar of Continuous assessment
Basic Bibliography
  • Bonnie Field & Shane Martin. Minority Governments in Comparative Perspective. OUP. 2022
  • Caramani, D. (ed.). Comparative Politics, 4th ed.. Oxford University Press. 2017
  • Clark, R., M. Golder and S. Golder. Principles of Comparative Politics, 3rd. edition. CQ Press. 2017
  • David Fortunato. The Cycle of Coalition: How Parties and Voters Interact under Coalition Governance. 2. CUP. 2021
  • David Rueda & Daniel Stegmueller. Who Wants What? Redistribution Preferences in Comparative Perspective. CUP. 2020
  • G. Bingham Powell Jr.. Ideological Representation: Achieved and Astray Elections, Institutions, and the Breakdown of Ideological Congruence in Parliamentary Democracies. CUP. 2019
  • Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca. The Historical Roots of Political Violence Revolutionary Terrorism in Affluent Countries. CUP. 2019
  • Isabela Mares. From Open Secrets to Secret Voting Democratic Electoral Reforms and Voter Autonomy. CUP. 2015
  • John D. Huber. Exclusion by Elections Inequality, Ethnic Identity, and Democracy. CUP. 2017
  • Karen Long Jusko. Who Speaks for the Poor? Electoral Geography, Party Entry, and Representation. CUP. 2017
  • Michael Albertus. Autocracy and Redistribution The Politics of Land Reform. CUP. 2015
  • R. Kenneth Carty. The Government Party. OUP. 2022
  • S. Erdem Aytaç and Susan C. Stokes. Why Bother? Rethinking Participation in Elections and Protests. CUP. 2019
  • Tim Bale & Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser. Riding the Populist Wave. CUP. 2021
Additional Bibliography
  • Acemoglu, Daaron y J. Robinson, . Why Nations Fail. Crown Publishing Group. 2012.
  • Acemoglu, Daron y J. Robinson,. Economic origins of dictatorship and democracy. Cambridge University Press. 2009.
  • Almond, G.A. y G.B. Powell (h),. Comparative Politics, revised edition. Little Brown and Co. 1979.
  • Blondel, J. (ed.),. Introduction to Comparative Government. Littlehampton Book Services Ltd. 1969.
  • Gómez, R. y L. Ramiro. Radical Left Voters in Western Europe. Routledge. 2022
  • Hobolt, S. y C. de Vries. Political Entrepreneurs. The Rise of Challenger Parties in Europe. Princeton University Press. 2020
  • Huntington, S.P., . The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century . University of Oklahoma Press. 1993.
  • Levistky, S. y Way, L. A., . Competitive Authoritarianism. Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War.. Cambridge University Press.. 2010.
  • Levitsky, S. y L. Way. Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism. Princeton University Press. 2022
  • Lijphart, A. (ed.), . Parliamentary versus presidential government. Oxford University Press. 1992.
  • Lijphart, A., . Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-Seven Democracies, 1945-1990. Oxford University Press. 1995.
  • Maravall, J.M.,. Regimes, Politics, and Markets: Democratization and Economic Change in Southern and Eastern Europe. Oxford University Press. 1997.
  • Morlino, L., . Changes for Democracy: Actors, Structures and Processes. Oxford University Press. 2012.
  • O'Donnell, G., P. Schmitter and L. Whitehead (eds.), . Transitions from Authoritarian Rule. Johns Hopkins University Press. 1986.
  • Przeworski, A., M. E. Alvarez, J. A. Cheibub and F. Limongi,. Democracy and development: political institutions and well-being in the world, 1950-1990. Cambridge University Press. 2000.
  • Schedler, A.,. The politics of uncertainty. Oxford University Press. 2013.

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