6 ECTS credits
162 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1020071BER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Je hebt ‘Politicologie: algemene inleiding’ gevolgd, alvorens dit opleidingsonderdeel op te nemen.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Political Science
Educational team
Silvia Erzeel (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
36 contact hours Lecture
3 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
150 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Political parties and elections play a crucial role in modern politics. They are at the heart of representative democracy. At the same time, parties and elections also seem to be in crisis: citizens are critical of their role, and alternative forms of governance are gaining in importance. Taking this tension as a starting point, this course considers the different facets of political parties and elections. We examine how the role and function of parties and elections in contemporary democracies has changed under the influence of societal and political changes. We also study shifts in party identification, voting behaviour and the organization of parties. We furthermore examine how features of party systems and voting systems influence the behaviour of voters, politicians and parties. Finally, we also consider current issues and debates linked to electoral and party political renewal.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Reader en slides van de hoorcolleges en lezingen, Canvas
Additional info

The practical organisation of the course will be available on Canvas at the beginning of the semester in a separate course outline. Mandatory readings (articles and chapters) will be available for the students on Canvas. The slides used for the lectures are also uploaded on Canvas after each class.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Students are familiar with the main concepts and theories in the study of party organizations, party systems and party system change, as well as different electoral systems and their consequences. The students understand the role of parties and elections in the democratic process, and can situate and evaluate different developments and evolutions in that area.

More specifically:

  1. The student is able to describe and explain the core concepts, theories and models found within the literature on parties and elections.
  2. The student has insight into the ways in which parties in their various facets have evolved over time and what the recent challenges are.
  3. The student is able to explain the role and function of political parties and elections in the democratic process.
  4. The student is able to classify and compare electoral systems and party systems, and has insight into the ways in which both influence the behavior of voters and parties.
  5. The student is able to make connections between characteristics of parties and elections on the one hand and results regarding political representation on the other hand.
  6. The student is able to evaluate the democratic quality of parties and elections.
  7. The student is able to formulate and motivate a reasoned viewpoint on scientific texts, and is able to criticize opposing viewpoints.
  8. The student is able to interpret and assess current issues and developments regarding party politics and elections from a political science framework, and is able to identify inconsistencies between theory and practice.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 30% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Group Paper with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The 'written exam' will assess the knowledge and insight of students in the discussed theories and concepts, as well as in the relations between these concepts and theories, and their concrete application to party political and electoral events.

The 'other exam' consists of a group paper. For the group paper, the results are weighted on the basis of peer evaluation.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: Minor Minor Human Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of History: minor Social Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology: - afstudeerrichting politieke wetenschappen (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bridging Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (ws) (only offered in Dutch)
Preparatory Programme Master of Science in Political Science: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)