JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 250"
COURSE NAME: "Western European Politics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Lars Rensmann
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 223
OFFICE HOURS: Wed 2-4pm, and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

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. Students will acquire political science models to explain causal mechanisms of West European politics, and develop 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 Union as a new system of governance shaping West European politics, and explore in how far the EU reflects the emergence of a European political system and ‘European party system’. Finally, students will apply models, knowledge and concepts to current issues of West European politics.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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 as well as EU 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 a research paper in which students can apply their knowledge.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Politics in Europe, 5th EditionHancock, M. Donald et al.CQ Press978-1-60426-611-5     
European Politics Today, 4th EditionAlmond, Gabriel,/Dalton, Russell et al.Longman/Pearson978-0205723898     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
In-Class exam, questions and written answers  20%
Final exam, questions and written answers 30%
Research/term paper, 8 – 10 pages  40%
Participation & oral presentation  10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork 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.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis 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.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Since the class discussions and presentations comprise an absolutely essential component of this course, course attendance is compulsory; the grade for your active participation will comprise 10 percent of the final grade. In order to make participation a meaningful experience for everyone, and most importantly for you, you will have to read assigned materials before class sessions and participate in class discussions.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

January 14: Introduction and Course Organization: Introducing the World of Western European Politics

 

Part I: Foundations of West European Politics: Legacies, Contexts & Features 

January 16: After 1945. Historical Legacies, Political Cultures and the West European Context

Readings: Gabriel Almond et al., “The European Context,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.1-21.

January 21: Comparing System Types in the West European Context

Readings: M. Donald Hancock, “The Why, What, and How of Comparative Politics,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.3-12; Gabriel Almond et al., “Democratic Political Culture and Political Action,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.22-41. 

January 23: West European Parties and Interest Groups

Readings: Gabriel Almond et al., “European Interest Groups and Parties,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.42-57.

January 28: Governments and Public Policy

Readings: Gabriel Almond et al., “Government and Public Policy,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.58-79. 

January 30: Models and Causal Mechanisms Explaining West European Politics

Readings: TBD

 

Part II: Major Established Democracies of Western Europe: Constitutions, Political Systems, Cultures, Parties, and Policies

February 4: The United Kingdom I

Readings: Guy Peters & Christopher J. Carman, “United Kingdom,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.15-58. 

February 6: The United Kingdom II

Readings: Guy Peters & Christopher J. Carman, “United Kingdom,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.59-106.

February 11: France I

Readings: William Safran, “France,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.109-146. 

February 13: France II

Readings: William Safran, “France,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.147-210.

February 18: Germany I

Readings: David P. Conradt, “Germany,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.213-254. 

February 20: Germany II

Readings: David P. Conradt, “Germany,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.255-309.

February 25: Italy I

Readings: Raffaela Y. Nanetti, “Italy,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.313-356. 

February 27: Italy II

Readings: Raffaela Y. Nanetti, “Italy,” in Hancock, Politics in Europe, pp.357-433.

FINAL PAPER TOPIC (SUBJECT AREAS) TO BE HANDED OUT. DISCUSSION ABOUT ACADEMIC PAPER WRITING.

March 4: Spain I

Readings: Donald Share, “Politics in Spain,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.230-253. 

March 6: Spain II

Readings: Donald Share, “Politics in Spain,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.253-279.

March 11: MIDTERM REVIEW 

March 13: In-Class Examination.

SPRING BREAK, March 17-21

 

Part III: Western Europe, the European Union and the Europeanization of Politics 

March 25: West European Politics and the European Union I: Institutions

Alberta Sbragia & Francesco Stolfi, “Politics in the European Union,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.417-435.

March 27: West European Politics and the European Union II: Politics and Policies

Readings: Alberta Sbragia & Francesco Stolfi, “Politics in the European Union,” in Almond et al., European Politics Today, pp.435-462. 

April 1: West European Politics and the European Union III: Monetary and Fiscal Union and the Future of the EU

Readings: TBD.

April 3: West European Politics and the European Union IV: European Parties, Public Opinion, and Elections

Readings: Simon Hix, “Democracy, Parties, and Elections,” in Hix, The Political System of the European Union 3rd Ed. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011), pp.175-207.

 

Part IV: Comparative Perspectives and Current Issues of West European Politics 

April 8: Erosion of Established European Party Politics? Western Europe Faces the European Crisis

Readings: Martin Elff, “Social Structure and Electoral Behavior in Comparative Perspective: The Decline of Social Cleavages in Western Europe Revisited,” Perspectives on Politics 5, 2 (2007): 277-294; http://www.jstor.org/stable/20446424

April 10: New Players in Europe: The “New” Radical Right

Readings: Piero Ignazi, “Extreme Right Parties: The By-Product of a ‘Silent Counter-Revolution’?” in Ignazi, Extreme Right Parties in Western Europe (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003), pp.197-223; Lars Rensmann, “The New Politics of Prejudice: Comparative Perspectives on Extreme Right Parties in European Democracies,” German Politics & Society 21 (2003): 93-123. 

April 15: The European Welfare State: Outdated Model or Ideal of the Future?

Readings: Walter Korpi, “Welfare-State Regress in Western Europe: Politics, Institutions, Globalization and Europeanization,” Annual Review of Sociology 29 (2003): 589-609; http://www.jstor.org/stable/30036981

April 17: Anti-Americanism, Americanization, and (West) European Identity

Readings: Andrei S. Markovits, “The Massive Waning of America’s Image in the Eyes of Europe and the World,” in Markovits, Uncouth Nation: Why Europe Dislikes America (Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp.135-149; Andrei S. Markovits & Ruth Hatlapa, “Obamamania and Anti-Americanism,” Aspenia 45-46 (2010). 

April 22: (West) European Politics and European Sports

Readings: Anthony King, Football Fandom and the New European Identity; Andrei S. Markovits & Lars Rensmann, Gaming the World: How Sports are Reshaping Global Politics and Culture (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010) (Excerpts).

April 24: FINAL REVIEW

TERM PAPER DUE.

April 26-May 2: Final Exam (Look for Announcements)