The course explores the historical evolution and the key structural features of Western European politics. By adopting a case-sensitive perspective, the course will compare the majority of Western Europe’s political systems: the British isles (the UK and Ireland), the two continental “great powers” (France and Germany), the Mediterranean democracies (Italy, Portugal, and Spain), and the Nordic monarchies (the Low Countries and Scandinavia). Students will become familiar with the similarities and differences between these political systems in terms of structural performance and impact of different political cultures. In addition, the course will turn to the European Union as a new system of governance shaping West European politics: it will explore how far the EU reflects the emergence of a European political system and a European party system, in particular by paying attention to controversial notion of “Europeanization”. By the same token, the course will deal with the rise of anti-European political movements and groups, especially the re-emergence of populism and extreme right parties. Finally, students will look at the way in which Western European countries interact at the international stage. For, the foreign policies of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy will be covered as well as the role played by the United States in Western European politics since 1945.

1. The basics of Western European politics: its political context, its structures, its processes.
2. Western European democracies compared: Britain and Ireland; France; Germany; Italy; Spain and Portugal; the low countries, the Nordic countries.
3. Integration and contestation: the EU framework; the rise of populism and extreme right parties.
4. Foreign policy in Western Europe: the foreign policies of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy; Europe and the United States.

1. Knowledge of a variety of different West European governments, political cultures, and parties, and with the historical legacies and transformations shaping West European politics.
2. Understanding of the key features and mechanisms of West European politics at both domestic and EU level.
3. Ability to analyze and evaluate contemporary issues of European politics.
4. Capability to recognize the impact of the European Union on Western European States, their societies and political cultures and identities.

1. All readings are mandatory assignments. Students must do the readings before class.
2. Attendance is compulsory and students have up to 6 unjustified absences during the course. Late arrivals will be counted as absences. Failure to comply with this obligation will result in a F in the class participation grade. Also, scarce preparedness and poor contribution to class discussion will negatively affect the grade.
3. Absences can be justified only by providing a medical certificate.
4. THE USE OF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (laptops, mobiles, tablets, etc.) IS NOT ALLOWED.

PART ONE: THE BASICS OF WESTERN EUROPEAN POLITICS

WEEK 1

September 1           Introduction: The European Context
Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 1]

September 3           Political Culture and Participation in Western Europe
Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 2]

WEEK 2

September 8           Political Parties and Interest Groups
Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 3]

September 10         Governments and Policy Making
Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 4]

PART TWO: WESTERN EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES COMPARED

WEEK 3

September 15         Great Britain and Ireland (I)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 2]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 5]

September 17         Great Britain and Ireland (II)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 2]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 5]

WEEK 4

September 22         France (I) [1st Take-home Paper Due]
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 4]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 6]

September 24         France (II)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 4]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 6]

WEEK 5

September 29         Germany (I)                      
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 3]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 7]

October 1               Germany (II)            
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 3]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 7]

WEEK 6

October 6               Italy (I) [2nd Take-home Paper Due]
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 5]

October 8               Italy (II)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 5]

WEEK 7

October 13             Mid-term Review Session
Readings: all the above

October 15              Mid-term Exam

WEEK 8

October 20              Spain and Portugal (I)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 6]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 8]

October 22              Spain and Portugal (II)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 6]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 8]

WEEK 9

October 27              Low Countries
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 7]

October 29              Nordic Countries
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 8]

PART THREE: INTEGRATION AND CONTESTATION

WEEK 10

November 3            Western European Politics and the EU (I)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 9]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 12]

November 5            Western European Politics and the EU (II)
Readings: Colomer [Ch. 9]
Extra Readings: Almond et al. [Ch. 12]

WEEK 11

November 10          Populism and Democracy in Western Europe [3rd Take-home Paper Due]
Readings: Albertazzi and McDonnell [Ch. 2 and 4]

November 12          The “New” Extreme Right in Western Europe
Readings: Ignazi [Ch. 2 and 12]

PART FOUR: FOREIGN POLICY IN WESTERN EUROPE

WEEK 12

November 17          Foreign Policy of Britain  
Readings: Tiersky and Van Oudenaren [Ch. 9]

November 19          Foreign Policy of France  
Readings: Tiersky and Van Oudenaren [Ch. 8]

WEEK 13

November 24          Foreign Policy of Germany [4th Take-home Paper Due]
Readings: Tiersky and Van Oudenaren [Ch. 10]

November 26          Foreign Policy of Italy
Readings: Tiersky and Van Oudenaren [Ch. 11]

WEEK 14

December 1            Europe and the United States
Readings: Tiersky and Van Oudenaren [Ch. 3]

December 3            Final Review Session
Readings: all the above