Neal G. Jesse Fall
2001
Office:
117 Williams Hall OLSC
2001
Office
Hours: TR 2:30-3:45 or by appointment TR 1:00-2:15
POLITICAL SCIENCE 351
WEST EUROPEAN POLITICS
This
course serves as an introduction to the politics of Western Europe for students
majoring in the social sciences, social sciences education majors, and related
majors. This course provides the
student with two separate but related elements necessary to understand politics
in the nineteen nations of Western Europe.
We will first explore the theories of political development,
organization and institutions that seek to generalize about politics in
Europe. Secondly, we will examine in
detail the policy history and current events of some of the major nations in
Europe. In both elements, an emphasis
is placed on the role of political institutions, political parties, and
governmental processes. This course
will also include a study of the origins of political conflict, the nature of the
party system and electoral system, the role of parliaments and the executive,
decision-making, socio-economic cleavages, voting behavior and citizen
participation. This course also serves
as an introduction to the role of the European Union and its impact on the
future of European political life.
Course
Readings
Two books are required for this course:
M.
Gallagher, M. Laver and P. Mair, Representative
Government in
Modern Europe, 3rd Ed.
H. Wiarda, European Politics in the Age of
Globalization
The first book provides broad
comparative information on West European political systems. The student should take from this book the
characteristics that define European politics, particularly in how they differ
from American politics. It also
provides a short introduction to the European Union and its contribution to
modern European politics. The second
book focuses on individual countries, and sometimes groups of similar
countries. Each chapter highlights the
political history, economy and political institutions of the appropriate country
or countries. I provide this book so
students can gain a firm and extensive understanding of a few important
European governments.
Grading and Assignments
The
final course grade will take into account the following:
Quizzes: 20%
Term
paper: 30%
Mid-term
examination: 20%
Final
examination: 30%
The quizzes are announced ahead of time. Questions on the quiz are multiple-choice
and fill-in-the-blank. The quizzes are
intended to offer the student a method by which to judge his/her progress in
the course and how well she/he is keeping up with the class readings. The mid-term and final examinations consist
of short-answer and short essay questions.
The term paper covers any important aspect of West European politics in
which the student is interested. The
length of the paper will be from 10 to 15 pages. A handout later in the course will describe the paper assignment
in greater detail.
Schedule of
Readings
FOUNDATIONS
Week 1 Introduction to European Politics
Aug 28 Class
Introduction
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 1 (pp. 1-13)
Aug 30 A
Brief History of European Political Development
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 1 (pp. 1-51)
BROAD
COMPARISONS OF WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Week 2 The Executive in European
Governments
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 2 (pp. 14-40)
Week 3 The Executive in European
Governments
Sept 11 Monarchs and Presidents
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 3 (pp. 41-49)
Sept 13 Prime Ministers and Cabinets
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 3 (pp. 49-67)
Week 4 The Legislature: Parliaments and
Assemblies
Sept 18, 20 Parliamentary
Powers
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 4 (pp. 68-95)
Week 5 The Divisions that Divide Europe
and Make Politics Go
Sept 25 Origins of Common Social Cleavages
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 9 (pp. 234-270)
Sept 27 Examples of Cleavage Systems
Readings: continue
from above
Week 6 The Commonalities that Unite
Europe
Oct 2, 4 Party Families
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 8 (pp. 202-233)
Week 7 The Organization of Party
Competition
Oct 9 Party
Systems
Readings: None
October 11 No Class — Fall Break
Week 8 Elections and Government
Oct 16 Electoral
Systems
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 11 (pp. 271-299)
Oct 18 Government
Formation
Readings: Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 12 (pp. 300-374)
Week 9
Oct 23 MID-TERM EXAMINATION
Readings: none
MAJOR
COUNTRIES OF WESTERN EUROPE
GREAT BRITAIN:
THE POLITICS OF KINGDOM, CLASS AND DECLINE
Oct 25 History
and Culture
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 2 (pp. 52-64)
Week 10
Oct 30 Governmental
Institutions
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 2 (pp. 65-91)
Nov 1 Policies
and Issues
Readings: as
above
FRANCE: PLUS ÇA CHANGE, PLUS C'EST LA MÊME CHOSE
Week 11
Nov 6 A
Messy History
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 3 (pp. 92-112)
Nov 8 Fifth
Republic Institutions
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 3 (pp. 113-137)
Week 12
Nov 13 Policies
and Current Issues
Readings: as
above
GERMANY:
DEUTSCHLAND REUNIFIED
Nov 15 History
up to Reunification
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 4 (pp. 138-154)
Week 13 NO CLASS
Readings: Wiarda, Ch. 4 (pp. 155-217)
November 22 No Class — Thanksgiving
Week 14
Readings: as
above
ITALY: THE
DIVIDED COUNTRY
Nov 29 Italy in one day
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 7 (pp. 304-367)
November 29 Term Paper Due in Class
EUROPEAN UNION
Week 15 An
Introduction to the European Union
Dec 4 Institutions
of the European Union
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 9 (pp. 412-421)
Gallagher,
et. al., Ch. 5 (pp. 96-134)
Dec 6 Institutions
cont.
Readings: as
above
Week 16 Policies
of the European Union
Readings: Wiarda,
Ch. 9 (pp. 422-455)
COURSE
CONCLUSION
Dec 13 What
we now know about Europe
Readings: none
Final
Examination Tuesday, December 18, 1:15 – 3:15 pm.