Contemporary+Politics+of+Europe,+PS+2211

= = This is an upper level course in European Politics. The approach is thematic, addressing major areas of interest in a cross-national fashion. We cover the major institutional variations in Europe (for example, how parliaments work and how elections are structured) as well as considering political behavior (voting, interest groups) and policy outcomes (policy decisions and effects). Strong emphasis is placed on building conceptual, analytical, and research skills for comparative politics. The course is evaluated based on in class midterm and final exams, and on a research paper. The course will include lectures, discussion, and some participatory group-work. Audio and video resources will be used throughout. Readings will be added as appropriate. I will post course grades and on Blackboard. You will find useful links and suggestions at my website: [|http://astro.temple.edu/~alistair] My email address is alistair@temple.edu. = Textbook = >
 * Political Science 2211 Section 1 ** CRN: 046572 Meeting M W F 2:40 PM - 3:30 PM BARTON HALL CLASS 403
 * European Democracies, Sixth Edition, by Markus Crepaz & Jurg Steiner, available at Zavelle’s Books,1520 N. Broad Street. Philadelphia, PA, 19121. Phone: 215-763-2445. The book is available from [|Amazon for $41] Please do your best to get the Sixth Edition.
 * Subscription to The Economist magazine, academic subscription rates apply (more info soon)

Assessment
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 * Midterm exam (30%) NB: midterm changed to TAKEHOME research and essay due October 27
 * Final exam(30%) NB: final changed to TAKEHOME exam due Monday 12/15 by email.
 * Research paper(40%) (12-18 pages) Full instructions and guidance will be provided. Paper topic must be approved by 10/31. Paper due in class Monday Dec 8.

Notes for studying:

 * For the midterm and final exams you will need to be able to define and use the "Key Terms" listed at the back of each chapter.
 * Also, pay careful attention to the Discussion Questions at the back of each chapter. These are a useful guide to the kinds of questions that will appear on the exams.

Schedule update for final four weeks (added 11/14)
Monday 11/17:Nationalism & ethnicity: esp war in Yugoslavia (Ch 12) Wednesday 11/18: Conflict in Yugoslavia continued (Ch 12) Friday 11/21: Power sharing (Ch 13)

Monday 11/24: Power sharing cont’d (Ch 13) Wednesday 11/26: Immigration film: __The Other Europe__ Thanksgiving

Monday 12/1: Immigration and integration in Europe (see pp 241-243 & pp 323-327) Wednesday 12/3: European Union: history (Ch 14) Friday 12/5: European Union cont’d: institutions (Ch 14)

Monday 12/8: European Union con’t: treaties (Ch 14) (Papers due) Wednesday 12/10: Last class, wrap up

Monday 12/15: Final takehome exam due

Class and reading schedule

 * ~ ** Wk ** ||~ ** Date ** ||~ ** Topic ** ||~ ** Reading ** ||
 * 1 || W 9/3 || == Introductions & Comparisons== || CS 1 ||
 * ^  || F 9/5 || == == || ||
 * 2 || M 9/8 || == Political Parties ==

|| CS 2 ||
 * ^  || W 9/10 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 9/12 || == == || ||
 * 3 || M 9/15 || == Parliaments == || CS 3 ||
 * ^  || W 9/17 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 9/19 || == == || ||
 * 4 || M 9/22 || == ==

|| CS 4 ||
 * ^  || W 9/24 || ==Research on Financial crisis== ||
 * || F 9/26 ||
 * 5 || M 9/29 || == == || ||
 * ^  || W 10/1 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 10/3 || == ==
 * ^  || W 10/1 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 10/3 || == ==

Cabinet formation & heads of state
|| ||
 * 6 || M 10/6 || == Social movements == || CS 7 ||
 * ^  || W 10/8 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 10/10 || == == || ||
 * 7 || M 10/13 || == The state and economic interest groups == || CS 8 ||
 * ^  || W 10/15 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 10/17 || == == || ||
 * 8 || M 10/20 || == == || ||
 * ^  || W 10/22 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 10/24 || == ==

Policy Outcomes
|| CS9 ||
 * 9 || M 10/27 || == Political economy in comparison == || TBA ||
 * ^  || W 10/29 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 10/31 || == == || ||
 * 10 || M 11/3 || == == || ||
 * ^  || W 11/5 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 11/7 || == End of the cold war == || CS 10 ||
 * 11 || M 11/10 || == Transitions to democracy == || CS 11 ||
 * ^  || W 11/12 || == == || ||
 * ^  || F 11/14 || == Nationalism & ethnicity ==

|| ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||
 * ||  || ==Final exam 12/15, 2-4pm in class== ||