This course explores the history, features, structures and peculiarities of West European politics. It is doing so in a case-sensitive and a comparative perspective that pays particular attention to West European political systems and party politics. Situating politics in their national political, cultural and electoral contexts as well as the broader historical legacies and processes of post-War Europeanization, the course will carefully analyze the national political systems and party competition in Europe’s largest and most influential countries, namely the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. Students will become familiar with the constitutive elements of, and the similarities and differences between, these political systems and cultures of Western Europe. They will acquire ways to analyze and compare European constitutions, systems of government, political cultures, parties, and interest groups, and the way these structures and agents shape policy-making in established Western democracies. The course will also turn to the European/EU level as a new system of governance shaping West European politics, and explore in how far the EU reflects the emergence of a ‘European party system’. Finally, students will be able to apply knowledge and concepts to current issues of West European politics.

The course examines various key political cultures, systems and party politics in Western Europe in comparative perspective. In the first section, the general historical legacies, political foundations, and parameters of West European politics are explored. The second section turns to an in-depth analysis of various, distinct West European constitutions, governments, political cultures and political party competitions (the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain). The European Union as a new framework shaping West European politics, and simultaneously a system of governance through which West European governments generate political agendas, will be the subject of the third section. In the fourth and final section, we explore current issues and trends in West European politics, such as the emergence of new parties (from “Pirates” to the radical right) and the potential erosion of party systems in the face of the European financial crisis.

Students will become familiar with a variety of different West European governments, political cultures, and parties, and with the historical legacies and transformations shaping West European politics. They will learn to describe and analyze features and mechanisms of West European politics on the national and European level, and they will be able to compare and evaluate these features and mechanisms. Students also learn to apply concepts and insights to contemporary issues of European politics. The class is based on lectures, interactive class discussion, student presentations, exams and small written assignments and research papers in which students can apply their knowledge.

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C, D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.

Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.