Citizenship, Crises and Elections
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S3
This course is open to students with a general background in political science or related social sciences. Familiarity with the basic concepts of democratic institutions, party systems, and electoral processes will be helpful. An interest in contemporary political developments and a willingness to critically discuss scholarly debates are important.
By the end of the course, students will develop a solid understanding of the main theoretical models of voting behavior and how these have evolved over time. They will be able to critically analyze the influence of contextual factors such as economic crises, institutional transformations, polarization, and populist competition on electoral outcomes. The course also aims to enhance students’ ability to interpret empirical research, engage with academic debates, and apply theoretical insights to contemporary political developments across democratic systems.
This course explores how economic, political and social contexts shape electoral behavior, public opinion, and party systems. Moving from classical theories of voting to contemporary challenges such as polarization, populism, and financial crises, students will examine the evolving relationship between citizens and democratic institutions. Through theoretical insights and empirical evidence, the course investigates how contextual shocks, with particular attention to economic downturns, affect the way people vote and engage with politics in contemporary democracies.
