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