Comparative European Politics
This course looked at European democracies and their institutions, how they differ, how they chave changed and the factors and actors that play a role in this.
Instructor: Dublin City University
Term: Spring 2026
Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to comparative politics on a European scale. Students will:
- Develop the analytical framework and empirical skills needed to answer complex questions regarding European politics
- Engage with theory, comparative case studies, data sets, and scholarly debates
- Receive hands-on experience by contributing to their very own comparative politics research project.
Grading
- Written exam: 50%
- Group Project: 50%
Schedule
| Week | Date | Topic | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Jan 12 | Introduction to Comparative European Politics Overview of the module. | |
| 1-2 | Jan 15-22 | Comparative Politics and How to Do it Overview of the history of the discipline of comparative politics, what it entails, and the basics of how to do it. | |
| 3 | Jan 26-29 | Europe and Democracy Overview of the conceptual histories of Europe and Democracy, and an introduction to Lijphart’s Patterns of Democracy | |
| 4-5 | Feb 5-12 | Peer Review Sessions Students provide peer review on the group project of other groups | |
| 6-7 | Feb 16-23 | Institutions Introduction to the comparative study of consitutions, legislatures, and the executive | |
| 8-10 | Mar 5-19 | Ideology and Democratic Competition Explores how party systems are a consequence of political culture and ideology, as well as electoral systems | |
| 11-12 | Mar 23-30 | Democratic Backsliding Discussion of Democratic, Hybrid, and Authoritarian Regimes, and how democratic backsliding happens through the actions of political actors & Voters |