Contemporary European Politics Political Science 136 Tufts University Spring Semester, 2011 Monday and Wednesday, 1:30-2:45

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1 1 Contemporary European Politics Political Science 136 Tufts University Spring Semester, 2011 Monday and Wednesday, 1:30-2:45 Professor David Art Packard Hall, 006 (617) Office Hours: Mondays 3:00-5:00 What this class is about This course examines European politics from 1945 to the present. The focus is on Western Europe, although we will touch on countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well. We will explore how European states put themselves back together after the trauma of WWII, how politics have changed since the first three postwar decades, and the major issues that European states are facing today. To do this, we begin by analyzing politics in four major European countries the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy before turning to thematic issues such as the welfare state, immigration and integration of foreigners, and the politics of the financial crisis. The European Union features prominently in this course, but it is not the same as PS 125 (Building the European Union). This course has no prerequisites, although a course in comparative politics and/or some coursework or background in European politics and history will be helpful. What you will need The books below are available for purchase at the bookstore. The ISBN numbers are included for your convenience if you are ordering online. Jonas Pontusson, Inequality and Prosperity (Cornell, 2005) Ian Buruma, Murder in Amsterdam (Penguin, 2007) Desmond Dinan, Europe Recast (Lynne Rienner, 2004) William Zinsser, On Writing Well, 30 th anniversary edition (Harper, 2006) Timothy B. Smith, France in Crisis (Cambridge, 2004) Rafaela Dancygier, Immigration and Conflict in Europe (Cambridge, 2010)

2 2 James Newell, The Politics of Italy: Governance in a Normal Country (Cambridge, 2010) Andrea Mammone and Giuseppe Veltri, eds., Italy Today: The Sick Man of Europe (Routledge, 2010) David Art, Inside the Radical Right: The Development of Anti-Immigrant Parties in Western Europe (Cambridge, 2011: available in March) All of the other readings will be either be available electronically or distributed as PDFs. What you will need to do This course has a lot of reading. It averages around 150 pages per week, and I assume that you will keep up with it. You are expected to attend all classes and participate in classroom discussions. Some days I will lecture (with some discussion), some days we will discuss assigned readings as a group, and some days you will do group presentations (which, in addition to discussion, counts toward your participation grade). So this class is a cross between a lecture and a seminar. Given the small class size, it is especially important for you to keep up with the material. Participation counts for 20 percent of your grade! If you are shy about speaking in public, please come and see me so we can discuss strategies for active participation. The course has two exams: an in-class midterm and a final. For the final, you have the choice between an in-class final (on May 9 th from 12:00-2:00) or a take-home. The takehome will be handed out on May 6 th and is due on May 9 th at 2:30. The course also has two papers (one five pages, one ten pages). I take writing seriously, and you will need to pass a quiz on On Writing Well to pass the course. Those who have taken this quiz before are exempt. We will determine a time as a class for the quiz. The topics for the two papers will be handed out at least two weeks before they are due. Final grades will be calculated as follows: Participation---20% Midterm---20% Final---30% Short Paper 10% Long Paper 25% Current Events Although this is not primarily a course about current political events, we will of course be attuned to developments in Europe, particularly those that relate to the topics we will cover. In addition to the readings below, I will sometimes ask you to read a short article

3 3 from the Economist (you have free access to it through Tisch library), and you are responsible for this additional material on quizzes and exams. I encourage you to read the Economist, or your preferred daily newspaper or weekly magazine, regularly. Important Dates February 14 First Paper Due March 7 Midterm Exam (in-class) April 20 th Second Paper Due May 9 Final Exam (either in class or take-home due at 2:30) Academic Integrity Assignments that you submit for this course will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs if any evidence of academic dishonesty is detected. The Office of the Dean of Students publishes a thorough pamphlet on academic integrity and plagiarism. You can find it at: If you have any questions about plagiarism, proper citation or any other issues involving academic integrity, please see me or your teaching assistant. Two quick points about plagiarism: 1) It is usually fairly easy to detect (the chances of getting caught are pretty high). 2) The penalties are severe. So PLEASE, it is MUCH better to ask what you think might be a silly question than to make a mistake in this area. Class Schedule NOTE: Items with an asterisk will be distributed as PDF s. January 24: European Political Development (lecture) No reading January 26: Rebuilding Postwar Europe (lecture and discussion) No reading (but begin reading for February 2 nd ) January 31: Introduction to Politics in the UK (lecture)

4 4 February 2: Keynesianism and Neo-liberalism: Discussion of readings below: Peter Hall, Governing the Economy, * Readings on Blair* Economist Survey on the British Elections February 7: Group presentations on Britain February 9: The French Political System (lecture) Begin reading France in Crisis February 14: The Welfare State (lecture) Keep reading France in Crisis February 16: Discussion of France in Crisis February 23: Group presentations on France February 24: Introduction to German Politics (lecture) February 28: Political Parties in Germany and Europe (lecture and discussion) Steiner and Crepaz, Political Parties. * Katz and Mair, The Rise of the Cartel Party. * Thomas Saalfeld, Political Parties, in Governance in Contemporary Germany, * Economist Survey of Germany (selections) March 2: Group presentations on German Politics March 7: MIDTERM EXAM March 9: The Italian Political System (lecture) March 14: Italy: A Normal Country? (discussion) Selections from The Politics of Italy and Italy Today, pages TBA March 16: Group presentations on Italy

5 5 March 28: Comparative Political Economy (lecture) March 30: Discussion of Inequality and Prosperity April 4: Immigration, Integration and National Identity (lecture) April 6: Discussion of Murder in Amsterdam April 11: Discussion of Immigration and Conflict in Europe April 13: Radical Right Parties in Western Europe (lecture and discussion) Inside the Radical Right (selections) April 20: A Short History of the European Union (lecture) Begin reading Europe Recast You are responsible for this material for the final. April 25: The European Union Today (lecture) April 27: The EU and the Financial Crisis (discussion) Readings TBA (things are changing fast!) May 2: The Future of European Politics (lecture and discussion)