Comparative Politics

This course provides the analytical knowledge and practical skills to understand comparative politics worldwide. It addresses a wide range of issues such as: What are the key features of democracies and autocracies and how can regimes best be classified? How can democratic backsliding be prevented in the European Union and worldwide? How did nationals state emerge and what is their role in an age of globalization? What are the effects of different electoral systems? How did parties and party system change over the past decades and why? Is political participation declining or just changing? The course covers these questions and many others by utilizing the methods and techniques of comparative politics. You will learn about states and regimes worldwide – as well as deepening your understanding of your own society. During the seminar, we review the leading research literature to understand the theoretical concepts and empirical literature on each topic.
The course will provide invaluable skills and knowledge for anyone seeking to develop familiarity with the major issues in comparative politics and the practical skills in analysing countries around the globe. In the age of globalization, cross-national insights into politics are invaluable for a wide range of potential careers, whether working for international agencies, multilateral organizations, non-profit NGOs, international corporations, or national governments.