PIR-40096 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Informed by classic and contemporary theoretical and empirical approaches to comparative politics, this module considers the nature and role of fundamental political structures in Europe (including political parties, executives and legislatures) and explores the ways in which these structures, and the actors within them, interact. It also examines the processes of socio-political and electoral change (such as declining political loyalty, falling turnout levels and decreasing trust in parties and democracy) and it assesses the consequences that these changes have had on European politics and democracy, and the challenges these changes pose to states, institutions and citizens.
This is a 15 credit module, taught in ten two-hour weekly seminars in which students have the opportunity to gain further experience of group discussions and oral presentations. It is assessed by way of one 4,000 word essay in which students examine a particular topic/question comparatively and in depth. The essay enables students to develop their ability to engage in advanced independent research and to further enhance their written communication skills.

This module aims to:
a) acquaint students with both classic and contemporary theoretical and empirical approaches to comparative European politics, and to develop students&© systematic understanding of and ability to reflect critically upon these approaches and the concepts that are central to them
b) develop students&© understanding, evaluation, and critical assessment of the processes of socio-political and electoral change that have taken place in Europe, of the consequences of these changes, and of the nature and role of fundamental political structures in Europe and of the actors within them
c) cultivate skills needed to engage effectively in advanced theoretical, empirical and comparative research in the field of European politics
d) enable students to gain further experience of group discussions and oral presentations
e) further enhance students&© written communication skills and their ability to engage in advanced independent research

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate systematic knowledge of and critically evaluate advanced scholarship in comparative politics.: 1
Independently evaluate methodological approaches to and advances in the study of comparative politics: 1
Identify and analyse processes of socio-political and electoral change, and critically assess the consequences that this change has had on European politics and democracy: 1
Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of and an ability to critically evaluate the nature and role of key political structures in contemporary European democracies and critically analyse the ways in which different political structures, and the actors within them, interact: 1
Communicate effectively through higher level writing skills with appropriate use of academic referencing.: 1
Demonstrate systematic knowledge of and critically assess classic and contemporary theoretical and empirical approaches to comparative politics: 1

Study hours

Seminar contact time: 20 hours
Preparation for seminars: 80 hours
Preparation for and writing of essay: 50 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment