Dr. Melody Ellis Valdini Fall MWF: 12:45-1:50 Office: 650-M URBN Room: Neuberger Hall 59

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1 POLITICAL SCIENCE 416/516: POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS Dr. Melody Ellis Valdini Fall MWF: 12:45-1:50 Office: 650-M URBN Room: Neuberger Hall 59 Office Hours: Friday 2:00-3:00 (or by appt) Website: Objectives and Approach: Parties and elections are crucial parts of every democracy. Political parties organize electoral choices and translate popular priorities into government policy. Elections provide the people with a voice, allowing them to select their leaders and thus, influence policy. This course is designed to engage the current literature on parties and elections, with a focus on the theoretical expectations for party, legislator, and voter behavior. We will analyze issues of representation, party creation & survival, and electoral behavior, and will perform in-depth investigations of several case studies. Course Assignments and Grading: 10%= Discussion in Class/In-class Activities 10%= Discussion Paper 40%= Representation Paper If grad student, 10% of this 40% = Presentation 40%= Final Exam Class attendance is required, and you will be responsible for all lecture materials. You are expected to do the reading for each week and be prepared to discuss the reading in lecture. Description of the Course Assignments: Final Exam: This is an in-class, closed book test that will include both objective and essay questions. Discussion Paper: You must submit a discussion paper on or before Nov 1. In other words, the last day that anyone can submit a discussion paper is Nov 1. The discussion papers should be submitted at the beginning of lecture, and should engage the readings of that day. This discussion paper is expected to be a reflective response to the reading assignment infused with a discussion of current events that support, undermine, or complicate the findings of the readings. In short, I expect you to advance an original argument in this paper, not just summarize the readings. I would like you to conclude your discussion paper with three questions that will provoke and stimulate classroom discussion. Please note: There are no allowances for late discussion papers, and discussion papers that are simply a summary of the assigned reading will be considered weak and will receive substantially fewer points. If you are an undergraduate: the discussion paper should be 5-6 pages, double-spaced. If you are a graduate student: the discussion paper should be 9-10 pages, double-spaced. Representation Paper: Representation is key to our understanding of electoral systems and parties. Depending on the system design and the parties present, certain groups are represented well in government, while others are represented at levels much lower than their proportion of society. Your paper will describe and discuss an under-represented group in a particular country (i.e., brief history of the group, patterns of past representation, which parties this group tends to support, etc.), and will analyze why that group is underrepresented. You may choose the country (but it must be one of our case studies), as well as the group to analyze. Electoral institutions will surely play a role in your paper, but you are encouraged to consider other variables that could affect representation. Evidence and 1

2 outside sources are required to support any argument. Your paper is due on December 8. GRAD STUDENTS ONLY: You will present the preliminary results of your paper on the presentation day after your country is discussed in class. For example, if you choose to investigate a group in Russia, you should be prepared to present your analysis to the class on Nov 15. If you choose to investigate a group in Brazil, your presentation day is Nov 29. Visual aids are required, and remember: this presentation is 10% of your grade, so it is worth your time to make it interesting and coherent. UNDERGRADUATES: If you volunteer to do a presentation, you will have the opportunity to earn extra credit. However, you will be required to meet with me before the presentation, and the amount of extra credit you earn will be contingent upon the quality of the presentation. If you are an undergraduate: the representation paper should be pages, doublespaced. If you are a graduate student: the paper should be at least 25 pages, double-spaced. Please note: You must turn in a paper copy of your paper on Dec 8 AND also me an electronic copy (mev@pdx.edu) on Dec 8. Policies Late Paper Policy: Discussion papers will not be accepted late- a paper copy must be submitted on the day of the lecture. The representation paper will be accepted late, but there is a half-grade penalty for each day that it is late. For example, if it is one day late, the highest grade you can receive on the paper is an A- ed Paper Policy: Discussion papers will not be accepted via - only paper copies will be accepted. A copy of the representation paper should be sent via , but that is not sufficient- you must also submit a paper copy. Academic Honesty: Fair and effective education requires academic honesty, and any violation is a very serious matter. Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments in this course are individual, and no collaboration with any other person is permitted. In-class tests are closed-book, with no aids allowed. These rules will be strictly enforced. Any academic dishonesty will without exception be reported to the student's dean for disciplinary action. Readings Books: The following books have been ordered by the PSU bookstore- all readings are required. 1. LeDuc, Lawrence, Richard Niemi, and Pippa Norris Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in a Changing World. - 4th Edition 2. Farrell, David Electoral Systems: A Comparative Introduction New York, NY : Palgrave. 3. Gallagher, Michael and Paul Mitchell (eds) The Politics of Electoral Systems New York: Oxford University Press. 4. O'Neil, Patrick and Karl Fields Cases in Comparative Politics (5th Edition) Articles: In addition, there will be articles online. You can access these articles via my website, or via any computer with a PSU connection. (hereafter referred to as ONLINE ARTICLE ) Class Schedule: Mon, Sept 25: Introduction and logistics Wed, Sept 27: Types of Electoral Systems: Majoritarian 1.Farrell, Electoral Systems, Ch. 2 & 3 Fri, Sept 29: Types of Electoral Systems: Proportional Representation 2

3 1.Farrell, Electoral Systems, Ch. 4 2.LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch. 2 Mon, Oct 2: Overview of Parties 1.Farrell, Electoral Systems, Ch. 7 2.LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch. 3 Wed, Oct 4: The Personal Vote 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Carey, John and Matthew Shugart Incentives to Cultivate a Personal Vote: A Rank-Ordering of Electoral Formulas. Electoral Studies Vol. 14, No. 4, pp ONLINE ARTICLE: Shugart, Matthew, Melody Ellis Valdini, and Kati Suominen Looking for Locals: Voter Information Demands and Personal Vote-Earning Attributes of Legislators under Proportional Representation. American Journal of Political Science, vol. 49, no. 2, pp LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch. 8 Fri, Oct 6: Class Canceled Mon, Oct 9: Class Canceled Wed, Oct 11: Types of Electoral Systems: Mixed Member & STV 1.Farrell, Electoral Systems, Ch. 5 & 6 Fri, Oct 13: Consequences of Electoral Systems: Women s Representation 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Caul, Miki Women's Representation in Parliament: The Role of Political Parties Party Politics Vol.5, pp LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch. 6 Mon, Oct 16: Consequences of Electoral Systems: Ethnic Group Representation 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Mala Htun Is Gender like Ethnicity? The Political Representation of Identity Groups. Perspectives on Politics Vol. 2, No. 3, pp ONLINE ARTICLE: Togeby, Lise The political representation of ethnic minorities: Denmark as a deviant case. Party Politics, 14.3, pp Wed, Oct 18: Turnout and Campaigns 1. LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch. 4&5 Fri, Oct 20: Parties in Government 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Thies, Michael F Keeping Tabs on Partners: The Logic of Delegation in Coalition Governments. American Journal of Political Science Vol. 45, No. 3, pp ONLINE ARTICLE: Carey, J. M Competing Principals, Political Institutions, and Party Unity in Legislative Voting. American Journal of Political Science, Vol.51, pp Mon, Oct 23: Representation Paper Writing Day! Writing and Data Gathering Workshop! **You must bring the introductory paragraph of your representation paper to this class (which of course means that you have finalized your selection of an under-represented group). Wed, Oct 25: Who Runs? Candidate Selection 3

4 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Shomer, Yael, Gert-Jan Put, and Einat Gedalya-Lavy "Intra-party politics and public opinion: How candidate selection processes affect citizens satisfaction with democracy." Political Behavior 38.3: ONLINE ARTICLE: Rahat, Gideon and Reuven Y. Hazan Candidate Selection Methods: An Analytical Framework. Party Politics, Vol.7, no.3, pp ONLINE ARTICLE: Fox, R. L. and Lawless, J. L Entering the Arena? Gender and the Decision to Run for Office. American Journal of Political Science, 48: Fri, Oct 27: Who Leads? Party Leadership Selection 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Kenig, Ofer "Classifying party leaders selection methods in parliamentary democracies." Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties 19, no. 4: ONLINE ARTICLE: Aylott, Nicholas, and Niklas Bolin "Managed intra-party democracy: Precursory delegation and party leader selection." Party Politics 23.1: Mon, Oct 30: Electoral Integrity 1. LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch ONLINE ARTICLE: Schedler, Andreas Elections Without Democracy: The Menu of Manipulation. Journal of Democracy Vol. 13, no.2, pp Wed, Nov 1:Parties & Elections in Non-Democracies 1. LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, Comparing Democracies, Ch ONLINE ARTICLE: Gryzymala-Busse, Anna Authoritarian Determinants of Democratic Party Competition, Party Politics, Vol. 12, pp ONLINE ARTICLE: Diamond, Larry Thinking about Hybrid Regimes. Journal of Democracy Vol.13, no. 2 pp Fri, Nov 3: USA 1. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch. 3 2.Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 9 Mon, Nov 6: UK 1. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch. 2 2.Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 8 Wed, Nov 8: Russia 1.Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 15 and page xvi of Preface 2. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch. 7 Fri, Nov 10: Veterans Day- NO CLASS Mon, Nov 13:France 1. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch. 4 2.Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 6 Wed, Nov 15: Presentations and Case Review Fri, Nov 17: Germany 1. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 10 4

5 Mon, Nov 20: Brazil 1.ONLINE ARTICLE: Desposato, Scott Parties for rent? Ambition, ideology, and party switching in Brazil's chamber of deputies. American Journal of Political Science, 50.1, pp O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch. 12 Wed, Nov 22: Japan 1. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 13 Fri, Nov 24: Thanksgiving Holiday- NO CLASS Mon, Nov 27: South Africa 1. O Neil, Cases in Comparative Politics, Ch Gallagher & Mitchell, The Politics of Electoral Systems, Ch. 17 Wed, Nov 29: Presentations and Case Review Fri, Dec 1: Exam Review and Course Conclusions Mon, Dec 4: FINAL EXAM (12:30-2:20pm) Friday, Dec 8: Representation Paper Due **Turn in a paper copy to my mailbox (6 th floor of Urban Building) by 4pm and an electronic copy to me (mev@pdx.edu). 5