81771 - Democracy and Populism in Europe

Learning outcomes

The course aims to give a thorough understanding of the changing nature of democracy in Europe, mainly as a consequence of the rise of populism, in its various forms. At the end of the course, students will be able to grasp the correct use of the concept of populism, as well as to understand the meaning of the rise of euroscepticism

Course contents

The course is articulated in three main parts. The first part is an introduction to European politics, with particular regard to democracy and political parties as the agents of representation. The second analyses the changing nature of democracy at the nation-state level and at the EU level, also with the contribution of guest speakers on several prominent examples. In the third and  final part, attending students will present their essays on selected topics, as agreed with the teacher at the beginning of the course.  

Readings/Bibliography

PRELIMINARY READING

Students who have no previous knowledge of European politics should read:

1) T. Bale, European Politics. A comparative introduction, Basingstoke, Palgrave , 2014, ch. 4-7

2) E. Jones, et al. Developments in European Politics 2, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2011, ch. 4-7

Parts 1-2 (weeks 1-4)

3) W. Merkel, Is there a Crisis of Democracy?, in 'Democratic Theory' Volume 1, Issue 2, Winter 2014: 11–25, http://www.democracybarometer.org/Papers/merkel_2014_crisis.pdf

4) H. Kriesi, The populist challenge, in West European Politics, vol. 37, 2, pp. 361-378.

5) G. Baldini, Populism in Europe: Everywhere and Nowhere? in European Political Science, vol. 16, 2016, forthcoming

6) C. Leconte, (2010) Understanding Euroscepticism, Palgrave Macmillan.

Part 3

For part 3, students will either work in their essay on a comparison between two parties/leaders, or on a case study, among two main areas:

1) The troubles with democracy.

Various articles from G. Baldini- M. Flinders, D- Richards, M. Smith and others appeared on the issue of the troubles of democracy in the journals 'Political Quarterly' and 'Parliamentary Affairs', 2015-16

2) Populism and the Eurosceptic challenge

H. Kriesi and T. Pappas (eds), European Populism in the Shadow of the Great Recession, Ecpr Press, 2015

Journal of Common Market Studies, January 2013, Special Issue on Confronting Euroscepticism (ed. By S. Usherwood-N. Startin, S. Guerra).

 

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Students who have no previous knowledge of European politics should read:

1) T. Bale, European Politics. A comparative introduction, Basingstoke, Palgrave , 2014, ch. 4-7

2) E. Jones, et al. Developments in European Politics 2, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2011, ch. 4-7

3) W. Merkel, Is there a Crisis of Democracy?, in 'Democratic Theory' Volume 1, Issue 2, Winter 2014: 11–25, http://www.democracybarometer.org/Papers/merkel_2014_crisis.pdf

4) Y. Meny- Y. Surel (eds.) Democracies and the Populist Challenge, Palgrave, 2002

5) H. Kriesi, The populist challenge, in West European Politics, vol. 37, 2, pp. 361-378.

6) G. Baldini, Populism in Europe: Everywhere and Nowhere? in European Political Science, vol. 16, 2016, forthcoming

7) C. Leconte, (2010) Understanding Euroscepticism, Palgrave Macmillan.

 

 

Teaching methods

Lectures in the first part of the course; then guest lecturers on case studies in the second part.

Students' presentations in the third part

Assessment methods

Students attending at least 80% of the classes (as assessed in week 3) will write a mid-term exam at the end of week 5, which consists in 4 multiple choice, and 4 open-ended questions. The final assessment will consider the mark obtained in the intermediate exam (40%), the Essay and its class presentation (40%), and the individual participation during the course (20%)

Non-attending students will write a final exam, also with 4 multiple choice, and 4 open-ended questions.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations

Office hours

See the website of Gianfranco Baldini