402131 VU Political Communication and Electoral Analysis - Enhanced Level
winter semester 2021/2022 | Last update: 27.09.2023 | Place course on memo listStudents acquire the ability to list different approaches to electoral analysis and party research as well as political communication and media research. Moreover, they know how to analyse the influence of public opinion to politics.
Democratic Representation and Conflict in Federal Systems
In the past decades, many European states have undergone processes of federalization reaching a considerable degree of political decentralization. These developments have far-reaching implications for the functioning of democracy. There are three normative promises associated with federalism: democratization, efficiency, and resolution of ethnic conflict. Has the federalization of Western European states kept these promises? This seminar deals with political processes in federal systems and discusses how (new and old) multi-level structures influence important goals of democratic representation. A first theoretical part looks at various forms of federal systems and the causes of decentralization reforms. A second more empirical part deals with elections and parties in multi-level systems. Practical units with quantitative data introduce students to the analysis of the territorial dimension of political competition. The third and final part analyses the effects of various crises – Great Recession and Covid19 – on federal systems. The focus is on the intensification of territorial inequalities, processes of re-centralization as well as the emergence of populist parties and secessionist pressures.
Lecture course with exercises, data analysis
Presentation and essay by the end of the semester
Alonso, Sonia (2012). Challenging the State: Devolution and the Battle for Partisan Credibility. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Däubler, Thomas, Jochen Müller and Christian Stecker (eds.) (2018). Regionalisation – virtue or vice? Assessing democratic representation in multi-level democracies. West European Politics, Volume 41, Issue 3.
Loughlin, John, John Kincaid and Wilfried Swenden (eds.) (2013). Routledge Handbook of Regionalism & Federalism. Abingdon: Routledge.
successful completion of compulsory modules 1, 2, 3 and 9
- SDG 10 - Reducing inequalities: Reduce income inequality within and among countries.
- SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Group 0
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Date | Time | Location | ||
Fri 2021-12-17
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14.00 - 19.00 | eLecture - online eLecture - online | ||
Fri 2022-01-14
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14.00 - 19.00 | eLecture - online eLecture - online | ||
Sat 2022-01-15
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09.00 - 14.00 | eLecture - online eLecture - online | ||
Fri 2022-01-28
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14.00 - 19.00 | eLecture - online eLecture - online | ||
Sat 2022-01-29
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09.00 - 14.00 | eLecture - online eLecture - online |