Comparative Politics
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S4
This course does not require specific prior knowledge, but a general understanding of political science concepts and terminology is recommended. Students should be prepared to engage with topics such as political regimes, electoral systems, and party dynamics, as well as basic comparative methods. Familiarity with reading academic texts in English and critically analyzing political phenomena will also be beneficial for successfully following the course.
The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the field of comparative politics and its methodological foundations. Specifically, it seeks to:
- Familiarize students with the comparative method as a central tool for analyzing political systems, institutions, and behavior.
- Deepen students’ understanding of key concepts and classifications in comparative politics, such as political regimes, party systems, electoral processes, and patterns of political participation.
- Equip students with the analytical skills to identify causal relationships between political phenomena, enabling them to critically engage with debates in the field.
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts, methods, and debates in comparative politics. It begins by examining the relevance of the comparative approach and the main methodological tools used to study political systems across countries. Building on this foundation, the course explores major regime types, including democracies and authoritarian systems, and analyses processes of democratization and democratic backsliding. Students will also study core political institutions such as governments, cabinets, and electoral systems, and their implications for representation and accountability. The course also investigates political parties, social movements, and party systems, with particular attention to their organizational principles, historical development, and comparative variation. The final part of the course addresses key aspects of political behaviour, focusing on political culture, political participation, and political communication, and how these factors shape political dynamics across democratic and non-democratic contexts.
