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Comparative Government and Policy in Europe

Overview

  • Taught by: Dr Dionyssis G Dimitrakopoulos
  • Assessment: Students taking this module as a core are assessed by 100% examination and are, in addition, required to submit 1 essay of 2,000-3,000 words. Students taking this module as an option are assessed by a written examination which will constitute 50% of the final assessment for an option module. The other 50% will be determined by a written assignment of 3,000-4,000 words.

Module description

The aim of this course is to equip you with advanced knowledge of (i) political institutions (executives, parliaments, etc.) and processes and (ii) the politics of policy development in West and Central European states, through an understanding of the conceptual and theoretical approaches applied to those processes and institutions, and through the substantive investigation of relevant cases. It seeks to examine whether they converge over time or retain their historically defined national characteristics.

Course content

This first part of the course examines government and politics in continental European states. It explores the dynamics of national political systems, the nature of political leadership, the position of the legislature and the political role of the judiciary, parties and party systems and the ideologies of Left and Right.

The second part of the course examines from a comparative perspective the public policies of continental European states in several areas including economic policy, the welfare state, the protection of the environment, administrative reform, and industrial, foreign and defence policies. Using theories and models of policy change, it explores policy traditions, processes, instruments, and outputs in European states.

Both parts of the course examine critically the concept of ‘Europeanisation’ which links EU-level decisions and processes to domestic institutional (and broader political) change, substantive policy reform, as well as transformed policy dynamics (changed relationships between state and non-state actors, producers-non-producers, etc.) at the national level.

Learning objectives

On graduating from the course you will:

  • Be familiar with the main concepts, theories and models applied in the study of government and politics in West and Central Europe, and be able to apply them critically in the analysis of political systems, institutions and processes and developments.
  • Have detailed substantive knowledge of the development, structure and operation of political systems and their parts in West and Central Europe.
  • Have developed a critical approach to current debates and issues concerning government and politics in West and Central Europe.

 

In addition, you will have developed detailed substantive knowledge of:

  • The activities of continental European states in several policy areas.
  • The socio-political origins of these activities.
  • The origins of similarities and differences between national and sectoral policies and styles.
  • The actual impact of processes that appear to challenge the autonomy of the nation state.

Recommended reading

The course covers a broad terrain, so any background reading you are able to accomplish will be extremely useful. On the recent history of Europe see:

  • Judt, Tony (2005) Postwar: A History of Europe since 1945. London: Heinemann.

 

In terms of textbooks, there are still relatively few volumes with pan-European coverage, but a good place to start would be the following:

  • Hayward, Jack and Edward C Page, eds. (1995) Governing the New Europe. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
  • Bale, Tim (2008) European Politics: A Comparative Introduction. 2nd revised and updated edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

 

As regards the second part of the course, you will benefit from reading the following:

  • Colebatch, HK (2002) Policy. 2nd edn. Buckingham: Open University Press. This book provides a very good and simple introduction to the concept of ‘public policy’.
  • John, Peter (1998) Analysing Public Policy. London: Pinter. This book provides an advanced discussion of key notions, processes and models.