Module Specifications.
Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025
All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).
As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Date posted: September 2024
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Description The primary purpose of this course is to equip students with a good knowledge of the politics of individual countries in modern Europe. This will involve learning the key features of the political systems in European countries. From this we can then identify any empirical patterns that exist across these systems. With this knowledge we will begin to look at likely explanations for the existence of these patterns. A secondary aim of this course is to enable students to predict the likely effect of different changes to a political system. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Identify similarities and differences between the contemporary politics of European countries 2. Have a critical understanding of the main debates in comparative European politics 3. Be able to compare different systems and use comparison as a method to draw conclusions about the operation of European political systems | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
1. Basic patterns of political organisation. Competing visions of democracy. The Westminster model and the consensus model of democracy.2. Veto players. Clevage structures in Western Europe: persistence and change.3. Party families and party systems in Europe.4. Electoral systems: electoral rules, PR versus majoritarian systems.5. Electoral systems: effects and electoral reform.6. Parliaments: legislative organisation. The decline of parliamentary power?7. The executive: cabinets and prime ministers.8. Judicial politics and constitutional courts.9. Administrative structures and bureaucracies: power without accountability?10. Introduction to the European Union: historical and institutional overview. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List
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Other Resources None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||