WEST EUROPEAN POLITICS
Department of Politics
726 Broadway 7th Fl. Room 710 Place: TISC LC2
The goal of this
course is to familiarize students with the politics and governments of Western
Europe. The course will emphasize the political, economical, and social changes
in this region since the end of WW II. The course is organized in four
sections. In the first section, we will examine and seek to compare
systematically general historical patterns of socio-political development. Then
we will focus on governmental structures, government formation, structures of
citizen representation in interest groups, social movements, and political
parties; electoral systems; and current problems of national identity. Here we
will also deal with issues that have to do with the specific Western European
problematique: the evolving welfare state, the rise of regionalism, trade
unions, changing political culture, immigration, and economic integration. In
the third section, we will focus on the contemporary political institutions and
the political parties of four major West European countries (the UK, Germany,
France, and Italy). By the end
of this course, you will have a better understanding of the governments of
Western Europe, the evolution of their democratic political institutions, their
party systems and the major issues surrounding the future of these countries
and the region.
Given the intensive nature of the course schedule you are expected to keep up with the assigned readings and to be prepared to discuss them in a knowledgeable way. This means dedicating substantial time to careful reading and thoughtful reflection before coming to class. If you fail to keep up with the readings you will not be able to contribute to and learn from the class interactions. Be prepared to ask questions and participate. Open discussion provides you with an important opportunity to wrestle with, criticize and engage the ideas and arguments presented in this course. There will be one term paper (15 pages long) on a topic of your choice as well as two presentations of the readings for two non-consecutive classes. However, you also will have a choice of taking a midterm and a final exam; each should be about six to seven pages long (1300-1500 words). The presentation should summarize the main points of the readings assigned and should not exceed 5-7 (five to seven) minutes. Copies of the presentations must be prepared and distributed in advance to the classmates.
GRADING:
Participation: 20 %
Presentations: 20 %
Term Paper (or Exams): 60 %
The following books are strongly recommended. Most of the articles assigned for this course could be downloaded from journals available in JSTOR, Project MUSE, Ingenta.com or through the Bobcat Electronic Journals Factiva system. The required readings are also available in a course-pack that could be picked up at New University Copy at 11 Waverly Plaza.
Josep Colomer, Political Institutions In Europe 2nd edition. London: Routledge, 2002.
Robert Elgie, Political Institutions in Contemporary France Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Michael Gallagher, Michael Laver and Peter Mair, eds. Representative Government in Modern Europe 4th edition, New York: McGrawHill, 2001
Manfred Schmidt, Political Institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2003.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, January 21, 2004: Introduction to Class and to Western Europe
Monday, January 26, 2004: Paths to State and Democracy:
Barrington Moore, Jr., The Social Origins of Democracy and Dictatorship, Boston: Beacon Press, 1968: 413-453.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004: Paths to State and Democracy, II:
John D. Stephens, Democratic Transitions and Breakdown in Western Europe 1870-1939: A Test of Moores Thesis. American Journal of Sociology vol. 94, Number 5, 1989: 1019-1077.
Charles Tilly, Western State-Making and Theories of Political Transformation in Charles Tilly, ed., The Formation of National States in Western Europe, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1975:601-638.
Martin Marcussen et al., Constructing Europe? The Evolution of Nation-State Identities. In Thomas Christiansen et al., eds, The Social Construction of Europe London: Sage, 2001: 101-121.
Monday, February 2, 2004: Cleavage Formation (and Freeze?):
Seymour Martin Lipset and Stein Rokkan, Cleavage Structures, Party Systems and Voter Alignments: An Introduction in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990:91-138.
Wednesday, February 4, 2004: The Evolution of Political Parties in Western Europe:
Max Weber, The Advent of Plebiscitarian Democracy in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991: 31-37
Maurice Duverger, Caucus and Branch, Cadre Parties and Mass Parties in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991:37-46
Sigmund Neumann, The Party of Democratic Integration in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991: 46-50.
Giovanni Sartori, Structuring the Party System in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991: 75-78.
Monday, February 9, 2004: The Transformation of Party Systems, Values and Ideology:
Steven B. Wolinetz, The Transformation of Western European Party Systems in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991:218-231
Scott J. Flanagan and Russell Dalton, Models of Change in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991:233-246
Arendt Lijphart, Dimensions of Ideology in European Party Systems in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991:253-266
Ronald Inglehart, The Nature of Value Change in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991: 247-253
Ronald Inglehart, From Class-Based to Value-Based Politics in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991:266-282
Wednesday, February 11, 2004: New Parties and Political Challenges:
Richard S. Katz, and Peter Mair, Changing Models of Party Organization and Party Democracy Party Politics Vol. 1 Issue 1 1995: 5-18;
Response by Ruud Koole, Cadre, Catch-All or Cartel? Party Politics Vol. 2 Issue 4 1996: 507-523.
Ingrid Van Biezen The place of parties in contemporary democracies. West European Politics Volume 26; Issue 3 July 2003: 171.
Monday, February 16, 2004: (Holiday)
Wednesday, February 18, 2004: The European Left: (Other readings to be assigned)
Adam Przeworski and John Sprague, Paper Stones Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1986:1-57
Jon Burchell, Evolving or Conforming? Assessing Organisational Reform Within European Green Parties. West European Politics Volume 24; Issue 3 July 2001: 113-171
John Callaghan, Social Democracy in Transition Parliamentary Affairs Volume 56 2003: 125-140
Elisabeth L. Carter, Proportional representation and the fortunes of right-wing extremist parties. West European Politics Volume 25; Issue 3 July 2002: 125
Alessandro Pizzorno, Interests and Parties in Pluralism in Suzanne Berger, ed., Organizing Interests in Western Europe Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981: 249-286.
John T.S. Madeley, A framework for the comparative analysis of church-state relations in Europe. West European Politics Volume 26; Issue 1 January 2003: 23
Arendt Lijphart, Patterns of Democracy New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. Chapter 9.
Doug Imig and Sidney Tarrow, Political Contention in a Europeanising Polity. West European Politics Volume 23; Issue 4 October 2000: 73
Dieter Rucht, The changing role of political protest movements. West European Politics Volume 26; Issue 4 October 2003: 153-199;
Dieter Rucht and J. Roose, Neither Decline Nor Sclerosis: The Organisational Structure of the German Environmental Movement West European Politics, vol. 24, no. 4, October 2001: 55-81
Monday, March 1, 2004: Government in Different Shapes:
Alfred Stepan and Cindy Skach, Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentarism Versus Presidentialism, World Politics vol. 46 issue 1 1993:1-22.
Gallagher, Laver and Mair, Chapter 2 and 3;
G-E. Isaksson, Parliamentary Government in Different Shapes West European Politics, vol. 24, no. 4, October 2001: 40-54
Lori Thorlakson, Comparing federal institutions: power and representation in six federations. West European Politics Volume 26; Issue 2 April 2003: 1-
Wednesday, March 3, 2004: Federalism,
Consociationalism, Corporatism, and Pillarization:
Arend Lijphart, The Politics of Accommodation: Pluralism and Democracy in
the Netherlands Berkeley: University of
California Press, 1975;
William B. Heller, Regional Parties and National Politics in Europe Comparative Political Studies Vol. 35 issue 6 2002:657-685.
Stein Rokkan, Verzuiling in Peter Mair, ed., The West European Party System Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991
Rudy Andeweg, Party, Pillars, and Politics of
Accommodation: Weak or Weakening Linkages; the Case of Dutch
Consociationalism, in K. R. Luther and K. Deschauer, eds., Party Elites in
Divided Societies: Political Parties in Consociational Democracies London; Routledge, 1999.
Monday, March 8, 2004: Citizenship, Ethnicity and Minorities and Politics of Emigration: (other readings to be assigned)
J.Christopher Soper and Joel S. Fetzer, Explaining the Accommodation of Muslim Religious Practices in France, Britain and Germany French Politics Vol. 1 2003:39-59.
Rogers Brubaker, Citizenship and Nationhood in France and Germany Cambridge: Hardvard University Press, 1992: (Pages to be assigned)
T. H. Marshall and Tom Bottomore, Citizenship and Social Class Oxford: Pluto Press, 1992: 9-17.
Christian Jopke, Immigration and the Nation-State Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999 (TBA)
Wednesday, March 10, 2004: The Welfare State:
Giandomenico Majone, The Rise of the Regulatory State in Europe. West European Politics volume 17 number 3 July 1994: 77-101.
Green-Pedersen C., The Puzzle of Dutch Welfare State Retrenchment: The Importance of Dutch Politics West European Politics, vol. 24, no. 3, July 2001: 135-150
B. Guy Peters, What Future for the Welfare State? in European Politics Reconsidered New York: Holmes & Meier, 1991: 220-255.
J. G. Andersen, The Scandinavian Welfare Model In Crisis -Achievements And Problems Of The Danish Welfare-State In An Age Of Unemployment And Low Growth, Scandinavian Political Studies 20:1 (1997): 1-31.
Vincent Wright, Reshaping the State: The Implications for Public Administration. West European Politics Volume 17 number 3 July 1994:102-137.
Monday, March 15, 2004: Spring Recess
Wednesday, March 17, 2004: Spring Recess
in Four
Different Contexts
Monday, March 22, 2004: United Kingdom, I: Patterns of Political Development:
Ian Budge Great Britain and Ireland: Variations of Party Government in Josep Colomer, Political Institutions In Europe 2nd edition. London: Routledge, 2002: 18-57
Philip Norton, The British Polity 4th edition London: Longman, 2001 (pages to be assigned)
Paul Webb, Parties and Party System: Prospects for Realignment Parliamentary Affairs Volume 56 2003: 283-296
Eric Shaw, Left Abandoned? New Labour in Power Parliamentary Affairs Volume 56 2003: 6-23
Monday, March 29, 2004: United Kingdom, III: Public Policy and Issues:
Jonathan Bradbury and James Mitchell, Devolution and Territorial Politics: Stability,
Uncertainty and Crisis Parliamentary Affairs, vol. 55, no. 2, April 2002: 299-316
Jonathan Bradbury and Neil McGarvey, Devolution: Problems, Politics and
Prospects Parliamentary Affairs
Volume 56 2003: 219-236
Ruth Lister, Towards a New Welfare Settlement? in Colin Hay, ed., British Politics Today Cambridge: Polity Press, 2002: 127-157
David Coates, The New Political Economy of Postwar Britain in Colin Hay, ed., British Politics Today Cambridge: Polity Press, 2002: 157-185.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004: Germany, I: Patterns of Political Development:
Peter Pulzer, German Politics, 1945-1995 Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995: 155-183;
Manfred Schmidt, Political Institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2003: 9-74; and 201-236.
Monday, April 5, 2004: Germany, II: Political Institutions, Linkages and Culture:
Manfred Schmidt, Germany, the Grand Coalition in Josep Colomer, Political Institutions In Europe 2nd edition. London: Routledge, 2002: 57-95;
Manfred Schmidt, Political Institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2003: 74-106.
Wednesday, April 7, 2004: Germany, III: Public Policy and Issues:
Herbert Kitschelt, and Wolfgang Streeck, From stability to stagnation: Germany at the beginning of the twenty-first century. West European Politics Volume 26; Issue 4 October 2003: 1-;
Stephan Leibfried and Herbert Obinger, The state of the welfare state: German social policy between macroeconomic retrenchment and microeconomic recalibration. West European Politics Volume 26; Issue 4 October 2003: 199;
Monday, April 12, 2004: France, I: Patterns of Political Development:
Robert Elgie, The Origins and Politics of the Fifth Republic in Robert Elgie, Political Institutions in Contemporary France Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003: 6-34;
Yves Mny, France: the Institutionalization of Leadership in Josep Colomer, Political Institutions In Europe 2nd edition. London: Routledge, 2002:95-133
Wednesday, April 14, 2004: France, II: Political Institutions, Linkages and Culture:
Robert Elgie, Political Institutions in Contemporary France Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003: 38-152.
Monday, April 19, 2004: France, III: Public Policy and Issues:
David S. Bell, and Byron Criddle, Presidentialism Restored: The French Elections of AprilMay and June 2002 Parliamentary Affairs, vol. 55, no. 4, October 2002: 643-663
David Bell, France: The Left in 2002- The End of Mitterrand Strategy Parliamentary Affairs Volume 56 2003: 24-37
Christilla, Roederer-Rynning,
Wednesday, April 21, 2004: Italy, I: Patterns of Political Development:
Gianfranco Pasquino Italy: A Democratic Regime in Transition in Josep Colomer, Political Institutions In Europe 2nd edition. London: Routledge, 2002:133-171;
Monday, April 26, 2004: Italy, II: Political Institutions, Linkages and Culture:
Mark Donovan, Berlusconi, Strong Government and the Italian State in Journal of Modern Italian Studies Volume 8 Number 2 2003:231-248
James Newell and Martin Bull, Italian Politics After the 2001 Elections: Plus a Change Plus cest la mme chose? Parliamentary Affairs volume 55 2002: 626-642
Martin Bull, Italy: the Crisis of the Left Parliamentary Affairs volume 55 2002: 58-74
Wednesday, April 28, 2004: Italy III: Public Policy and Issues:
Gianfranco Pasquino, A Tale of Two Parties: Forza Italia and the Left Democrats in Journal of Modern Italian Studies Volume 8 Number 2 2003: 197-215.
Gaspare Nevola, From the Republic of Parties to a Fatherland for Italians: The Italian Political System in Search of a New Principle of Legitimation. in Journal of Modern Italian Studies Volume 8 Number 2 2003:249-265
Benito Giordano, The Continuing Transformation of Italian Politics and the Contradictory Fortunes of the Lega Nord in Journal of Modern Italian Studies Volume 8 Number 2 2003:216-230
Monday, May 3, 2004:
Last Day of Classes What
European Future: Charles Kupchan, The Rise of Europe, The End
Of The American Era, ch. 4, pp. 119-59;
Robert Kagan, Power and Weakness, Policy Review, #113.