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§ 5 (1) 6a Political Scstem of Austria - Introductory Level

Students know the functions and structures or relevant institutions and processes of the political system and selected policy fields. Moreover, they illustrate the most important aspects of political history of the First and Second Republic.

This course is aimed at students in the Bachelor of Political Science and deals with the basic features and developments of the Second Republic of Austria. The focus is on the Austrian political system in international comparison and in particular on subjects such as elections and the electoral system, the Austrian Social Partnership, Austrian institutions in the European multi-level system, political culture as well as parties, party system change and populism. The starting point are theoretical frameworks and explanatory models, which allow us better understand Austrian developments in light of international processes and Europeanization but also to integrate Austrian developments into a broader, political science context.

In this course, students will learn about central concepts in Political Science as well as the main features of the Second Republic of Austria, mainly though group tasks and interactive discussion of the relevant literature. Following this introduction, students will develop a research concept on a selected topic, which they will present and discuss with each other in the Proseminar.

The final grade is composed of several components, each of which must be completed positively, and students may choose between two tracks.

Attendance and active participation in course sessions (10%), development of a research concept for an empirical research paper on the topic of a particular Proseminar session (10%), EITHER writing and presentation of a final paper based on this research concept (Track I: 60%) OR continuous writing of discussion papers over the course of the semester (Track II: 60%), final test on course readings (20%).

Readings (additional literature in Proseminar sessions)

Heinisch, R. (2020). Kritisches Handbuch der Demokratie in Österreich, Böhlau.

Pelinka, A.; Rosenberger S. (2007). Österreichische Politik. Grundlagen – Strukturen – Trends, 3. Auflage, Wien.

successful completion of compulsory module 1