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)


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