Level 4 X Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 Mark the box to the right of the appropriate level with an X

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1 MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE MODULE DETAILS Module title Comparative European Political Systems Module code SS440 Credit value 20 Level Level 4 X Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 Mark the box to the right of the appropriate level with an X Level 0 (for modules at foundation level) Entry criteria for registration on this module Pre-requisites Specify in terms of module codes or equivalent Co-requisite modules Specify in terms of module codes or equivalent Module delivery None None Mode of delivery Taught X Distance Placement Online Other Pattern of delivery Weekly X Block Other When module is delivered Semester 1 Semester 2 X Throughout year Other Brief description of module content and/ or aims Overview (max 80 words) Module team/ author/ coordinator(s) School Site/ campus where delivered In the course of this module students will be introduced to some of the key features of politics in Europe, including cleavages in European society and the fundamentals of European liberal democracies. They will then go on to study the political systems of three European countries, and be introduced to how to apply relevant political concepts, such as power, in order to analyse and compare those political systems. R. Raeburn (Co-ordinator) Dr. A. McGarry, Dr. K. Artaraz School of Applied Social Science Falmer Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course Course BA (Hons) Politics BA (Hons) Social Science Status (mandatory/ compulsory/ optional) Compulsory Optional MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT Aims The aims of the module are: To introduce students to some of the key social divisions which drive politics in Europe, and other principal elements of European political culture.

2 To introduce students to the key features of the European economy and the economies of three European states. To give students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of key political institutions. To introduce students to the political system of three European countries. To introduce students to the concept of power as an analytical tool. Learning outcomes On successful completion of the module the student will be able to : 1. Demonstrate knowledge of a broad range of features of the politics in three European states. 2. Explain the structure and function of the main institutions of the political systems of at least two European countries. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between political institutions and society. 4. Analyse, in terms of power, the relationship between the main institutions in at least two European states. Content What is Europe? Key features of political culture of three European states. How to use the concept of power to analyse and compare political systems. The Role of a Constitution Structures of the State: o Federal v Unitary o Presidential v Parliamentary Structures of Government: o Assemblies o Executives o Judiciaries o Bureaucracies o Sub-national government Learning support Key Comparative Text Bale, T European Politics, a comparative introduction. 3rd Edition Basingstoke, Palgrave. Supplimentary Comparative Texts Almond, G. A. G. Bingham-Powell Jr. R. J. Dalton and K. Strom 2010 European Politics Today 4 th Edition. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan Hague, R and M. Harrop 2013 Comparative Politics 9 th Edition Basingstoke Macmillan Jones, E. et al (eds) 2011 Developments in European Politics. 2 nd Edition. Basingstoke, Palgrave. Lijphart, A Patterns of Democracy New Haven: Yale University Press. Sakawa, R. and A. Stevens 2012 Contemporary Europe. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan Key Texts on Countries (NB only 3 countries will be studied in any year) Conradt, D.P. and E. Langenbacher 2013 The German Polity 10 th Edition. Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc. Drake, H Contemporary France. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan

3 Teaching and learning activities Körösényi, A Government and Politics in Hungary. Central European University Press- Osiris, Budapest. Magone, J.M Contemporary Spanish Politics. Abingdon, Routledge Suplimentary Texts on countries András, Gerő Imagined History : Chapters from Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Hungarian Symbolic Politics / András Gero. East European Monographs ; No Boulder, Colo: Center for Hungarian Studies and Publications. Cole, A. S. Meunier, and Tiberj, V Developments in French Politics 5 Basingstoke, Palgrave Green, S. D. Hough and A. Miskimmon 2010 The Politics of the New Germany. 2nd Edition. Abingdon, Routledge Hoensch, Jörg K. (Jörg Konrad). A History of Modern Hungary: nd ed. Harlow: Longman, Safran, W The French Polity 7 th. London, Pearson Longman Journals: Government & Opposition Politics Political Studies Political Studies Review British Journal of Politics & International Relations Some radio and television documentaries will be made available via the Box of Broadcast facility, as the module team deem it appropriate. CIA World Factbook Students will be encouraged to regularly read a serious newspaper (e.g. Daily Telegraph, Times, Guardian, Independent or Financial Times) and watch and listen to serious news broadcasts (e.g. Channel 4 news, BBC 10 o clock news and various Radio 4 programmes such as Analysis and File on Four.) A copy of the module handbook will be available for each student, as will access to StudentCentral. Details of teaching and learning activities Allocation of study hours (indicative) Where 10 credits = 100 learning hours SCHEDULED There will be three hours of contact time weekly through the duration of the module. This will be divided into an hour s lecture and a two-hour workshop. The workshop will be organised differently week by week, but will include whole group discussions, and small group and individual learning exercises. One hour of the contact time will be focussed on skills enhancement, this will include students doing formative presentations individually and in groups. Study hours 36 GUIDED INDEPENDENT STUDY Directed independent study. This will include required academic reading and suggestions of news media to 164

4 access. It will also include time spent preparing for formative presentations, the summative essay and revision for the exam. PLACEMENT TOTAL STUDY HOURS 200 Assessment tasks Details of assessment on this module Types of assessment task 1 Indicative list of summative assessment tasks which lead to the award of credit or which are required for progression. WRITTEN Time constrained on-line test (LOs 1 & 2) One hour % weighting (or indicate if component is pass/fail) 40% COURSEWORK Essay of no more than 2000 words (Los 3 & 4) 60% PRACTICAL Oral assessment and presentation, practical skills assessment, set exercise EXAMINATION INFORMATION Area examination board Refer to University for guidance in completing the following sections External examiners Name Position and institution Date appointed Date tenure ends Dr Mikko Kuisma Senior Lecturer in Politics, Oxford Brookes University September 2014 October 2018 QUALITY ASSURANCE Date of first approval Only complete where this is not the first version Date of last revision Only complete where this is not the first version Date of approval for this version Version number 3 Modules replaced Specify codes of modules for which this is a replacement February 2013 December 2015 Q&S editorial changes April 2016 Available as free-standing module? Yes X No 1 Set exercises, which assess the application of knowledge or analytical, problem-solving or evaluative skills, are included under the type of assessment most appropriate to the particular task.

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