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Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title
Module Code
School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Adam McAuley
Semester 2: Adam McAuley
Autumn: Adam McAuley
Module TeachersAdam McAuley
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None
Coursework Only
Array
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.

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



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture12No Description
Seminars12No Description
Independent Study101No Description
Total Workload: 125

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

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.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Essayn/a100%
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
1 = A resit is available for all components of the module
2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module
3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category
Indicative Reading List

  • Gallegher, M., Laver, M., and P. Mair: 2006, Representative Government in Modern Europe: institutions, parties and governments, 4th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York,
  • Bale, Tim: 2005, European Politics, Palgrave, Basingstoke,
  • Landman, Todd: 2003, Issues and methods in comparative politics: an introduction, 2nd Edition, Routledge, London,
Other Resources

None
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