Public opinion and political parties
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S2
To successfully complete this course, students are expected to:
• read and understand the syllabus of this course
• have the mandatory readings done before attending the sessions
• actively participate in the sessions
• complete the assignments
Political parties are crucial actors in modern democracies. They are considered to play a key role in the opinion formation of citizens. This course focusses on how political parties affect citizens’ norms, attitudes and behaviour in the context of democratic challenges. We begin by establishing a foundational understanding of motivated reasoning and the role of party cues in shaping individual attitudes. Subsequently, we address contemporary debates on the normalization of the radical right and the erosion of democratic norms. This course provides students with an overview of cutting-edge research that examines how mainstream parties respond to challengers and how these interactions impact political attitudes. Students will gain an understanding of how parties behave, how they influence citizens’ opinion formation and what consequences their behaviour has for the stability of liberal democracies. By using interactive and innovative teaching formats, students will learn how to critically evaluate contemporary research on party politics, and they will be able to formulate concrete implications for academic and non-academic debates.
Upon completion of this course, students will
â— Have a strong understanding of the role of political parties in opinion formation
â— Be able to apply this theoretical understanding to research on political parties and public opinion
â— Be able to critically evaluate the validity of contemporary political science research.
â— Be able to communicate complex scientific evidence in a concise manner
â— Be able to analyse the strategic trade-offs (mainstream) parties face in a context of polarization
22.01.26 Introduction to Political Parties & Public Opinion
28.01.26 Do Political Parties Matter?
05.02.26 Political Representation & Political Attitudes
12.02.26 Political Parties & Polarization
04.03.26 Political Rhetoric & Democratic Norms
12.03.26 Party Strategy & Challenger Legitimacy
19.03.26 Media Exposure & Extreme Views
26.03.26 Political Parties & Emotions
02.04.26 Lessons & Implications LW 312 No
