02492 - Comparative Politics

Learning outcomes

The course intends to develop the knowledge acquired in the basic courses of Political Science, Contemporary History, History of the European Political Systems. Students should learn the different paths and the different outcomes of the process of democratization in Europe, and their effects on the various national party systems. Moreover, students should become confident with the institutions and the party systems of the countries analyzed in the course.

Course contents

The course analyses the process of democratization and its institutional outcomes with particular reference to the party and party systems in Europe.   

Specific attention will be devoted to the changes in the party organization in general, and in the various national parties since the 1980s.

Readings/Bibliography

For the first part:

1) S. Rokkan, Stato Nazione e Democrazia in Europa. il Mulino, 2002 ( pages:  203-256 e 361-446).

2) O. Massari, I partiti politici nelle democrazie contemporanee. Laterza, 2004.

3) E. Somaini, Geografia della democrazia. il Mulino, 2009 (chapters: 1-3,  5,  7-10,  16).

 for the second part:

4) S. Vassallo (a cura di) Sistemi politici comparati, il Mulino, 2005   (chapters: 1-3, 5, 6).

5) In addition to the these texts, students should refer to the lectures by the professor dealing with the countries non included in Pasquino and Grilli di Cortona. In case students could not attend or could not avail of the notes, they should read the following texts. Further texts on other countries will be suggested in a later moment. 

Belgium and the Netherlands:

-Kris Deschouwer:  “The colour purple. The end of predictable politics in the Low Countries”,  in  Paul Webb  et al. (eds) Political parties in advanced industrial democracies, Oxford university press, 2002, pp. 151-180.

- Kris Deschouwer:  “Political Parties and the Erosion of Voter Loyalty in Belgium”  in P.Mair, W.Muller, and F.Plasser (eds) Political parties and Electoral Change, Sage, 2004, pp: 179-206.

 Scandinavia: 

- Jan Sundberg: “The Scandinavian party model at the crossroads” in Paul Webb  et al. (eds) Political parties in advanced industrial democracies, Oxford university press, 2002, pp: 181-216.

Austria:

- Kurt-Richard Luther:  “Austria: From Moderate to Polarized Pluralism”, in Broughton, D., and Donovan, M. (eds.), Changing party systems in Western Europe  Pinter, 1998, pp: 118-142.

- Kurt-Richard Luther:  “The FPÖ: From Populist Protest to Incumbency”, in Peter Merkl and Leonard Weinberg (eds) Right-Wing Extremism in the Twenty-First Century, Frank Cass, 2003, pp: 191-219.

Irleand:

- J.Coakley and M.Gallangher,  Politics in the Republic of Ireland, Routledge 2004, pp. 50-68, 135-157.

Switzerland:

-  Clive Church The politics and government of Switzerland, Palgrave, 2004, pp: 26-32, 60-70.  

-  Wolf Linder, Swiss Democracy, St Martins, 1994, pp: 18-25,29-33,  44-49,  85-87, 99-100.

Teaching methods

Lectures.  Comments, questions and whatever clarification is needed are always welcomed during class.

Assessment methods

Written examination (four to five questions). Oral examination will be allowed to Erasmus/Overseas Students.

Teaching tools

overheads

Office hours

See the website of Piero Ignazi