EUT068: The Public, Parties and Democracy
School | null |
Department Code | null |
Module Code | EUT068 |
External Subject Code | L200 |
Number of Credits | 15 |
Level | L7 |
Language of Delivery | English |
Module Leader | Dr Mark Donovan |
Semester | Autumn Semester |
Academic Year | 2013/4 |
Outline Description of Module
This module enables students to develop an advanced understanding of contemporary developments in, and debates about, political parties, including their alleged crisis, the alleged crisis of party government and, thus, the nature of contemporary democracy.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
On successful completion of the module a student will be able to:
Demonstrate a high level of theoretical and empirical knowledge about contemporary political parties in the European, especially West European context. This will include knowledge and understanding of the history of party mobilisation and party organisational change, as well as theories about the alleged crises of political parties and party government.
How the module will be delivered
Weekly seminars of approximately one and a half hours duration.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Skills that will be practised and developed
On completion of this module, a typical student will be able to demonstrate skills in the following areas
Knowledge and understanding: of key theoretical approaches to the understanding of political parties and their roles in democracy, as well as of empirical cases, particularly in Europe, and especially in Western Europe.
Intellectual Skills: Conceptual analysis including the ability to synthesise and evaluate information and to use logic and empirical evidence to formulate and present rigorous arguments.
Practical and Transferrable Skills: Communication and reflection through participation in the seminars; use of information and communications technology for the retrieval information; management of his/her own learning; gathering, organising and deploying evidence, data and information from a variety of sources; working independently.
How the module will be assessed
Type of assessment |
% Contribution |
Title |
|
|
Exam |
100 |
2hr written exam | ||
Assessment Breakdown
Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
---|---|---|---|
Exam - Autumn Semester | 100 | The Public, Parties And Democracy | 2 |
Syllabus content
Syllabus content
· Party democracy and public policy
· Electoral systems and electoral regulation
· Electoral behaviour
· Election campaigns
· Political parties (organisation)
· Party systems
· Coalition formation
Essential Reading and Resource List
Indicative Reading and Resource List:
There is no single, set text. Particularly useful texts are:
Dalton, R.J. et al. (2011). Political Parties and Democratic Linkage: How Parties Organize Democracy, OUP.
Gallagher Laver & Mair (2011). Representative Government in Modern Europe, McGraw Hill [good UG text]
Jones et al. (2010). Developments in European Politics 2, Palgrave Macmillan. (Previous edition also excellent)
LeDuc, Niemi & Norris (eds) (2010), Comparing Democracies 3, Sage. (Previous editions also excellent)