Comparative
European Politics
POLS
354/INST 395
Instructor: Dr. Brunell
Class
Meets: T/Th
10:50-12:05 in CG 137
Spring
2012
Week-by-Week
Schedule (last amended February 5, 2012)
Week
One:
Thursday,
January 19th
Introduction
to the Course and Explanation of Assignments
Week Two:
Tuesday,
January 24
Introductory
Lecture: What is Europe and what
can we learn from studying it?
Reading: TR Reid, Chpt.
1, ÒA Quest for Two CuresÓ
Thursday,
January 26
Introductory
Lecture: The European Union
Intergovernmental
and Supranational Politics in Europe Today
Assignment: Bring a sheet of paper to class with a
rank order list of your top two country choices and the policy area you want to
focus on in your paper (i.e., European integration/the Eurozone crisis,
managing diversity, or health care/saving the European social model)
Reading: Hancock, 8.1
Week Three:
Tuesday,
January 31
Political
Ideologies in Europe and The European Social Model
Do: Go to politicalcompass.org, read the
homepage and then click on take
the test to take the test; print results and bring to class.
Reading: The European Social Model (in Course
Documents in Blackboard)
Thursday,
February 2
Introductory
Lecture on Diversity in Europe and to the Geddes book
In
class, time for group meeting
Reading: Geddes, pp. 1-19
Week
Four:
Tuesday,
February 7
The
UK: Political Culture and the
Parliamentary System
Reading: Hancock book, Chpts.
1.1 and 1.2 (stop at section on Civil Service)
Thursday,
February 9
The
UK: The Parliamentary System
(contÕd) and the Party System
Reading:
Hancock book, Chpts. 1.2 and 1.3
Week Five:
Tuesday,
February 14
France: The Context of French Politics and
French Political Culture
Reading:
Hancock book, Chpt. 2.1
Thursday,
February 16
France: Parties and Institutions
Reading:
Hancock book, Chpts. 2.2 and 2.3
Week
Six:
Tuesday,
February 21
Film
Reading: Geddes, Chpt.
3 ÒFrance: Still the One and
Indivisible Republic?Ó see also stories on France under ÒManaging
DiversityÓ link
Thursday,
February 23
Presentations
on Immigration/Diversity in the UK and France
Reading: Geddes, Chapter 2 ÒMaintaining ÔFortress
BritainÕÓ and stories on UK under ÒManaging
DiversityÓ link
Discussion
Questions:
What
is Òfortress Britain?Ó Does the
reality of immigration/migration/diversity in the UK live up to the mythology
of Òfortress Britain?Ó Why or why
not? How is British political
culture reflected in its approach to immigration/migration?
What has been FranceÕs approach to citizenship historically? What political values does this approach
represent? Are these values
reflected in French attitudes toward immigration and diversity today? Why or why not? What has caused a shift in French
attitudes toward immigrants compared to earlier generations? How do we square Geddes presentation of
the facts of French immigration policy with the romantic portrayal we saw in
film Le Havre?
Tuesday,
February 28
Presentations
on European integration in the UK and France
No
new reading; catch up or read ahead for next time – note 2 chpts for next class
Discussion
Questions:
What
are the UK and FranceÕs attitudes toward European integration? Why do they differ in this way?
Is
the UK participating in the Euro?
Why or why not? What is its
position on the future of the EuroÓ?
What has the French role been in managing the Euro zone crisis?
Week
Seven:
Thursday,
March 1
Presentations on healthcare in UK and France
Reading: Reid, Chpt. 7,
ÒThe UK: Universal Coverage, No
BillsÓ and Chpt. 4,
ÒFrance: The Vital CardÓ
Discussion Questions:
What
does the design of the British healthcare system reveal about the political
culture of the UK in the 20th and 21st centuries? That is, what values are reflected in
its healthcare system? Does this
represent a shift in British political values compared to earlier
centuries? What caused this shift
in values?
What
does the design of the French healthcare system reveal about the political culture
of France in the 20th and 21st centuries? That is, what values are reflected in
its healthcare system? Does this
represent a shift in French political values compared to earlier centuries? What caused this shift in values?
Week
Eight:
Tuesday,
March 6
Summing
Up the UK: How Are the UK and
France Facing the Challenges of European Integration, Diversity, and Managing
Their Welfare States the Early 21st Century
Review
for MT: Political Culture and
Institutions; What are the main political challenges
facing European countries today?
Describe
political cultures and institutions of the UK and France. What do their approaches to European integration, immigration and healthcare tell us about each
country? How do their approaches
differ from one another and from the US and why?
Thursday,
March 8
MT
SPRING BREAK!!!
Week
Nine:
Tuesday,
March 20
Introduction
to Germany: Context, Political
Culture
Reading: Hancock book, Chpt.
3.1
Tuesday,
March 22
German
Political Institutions
Reading: Hancock book, Chpts.
3.2 and 3.3
Week
Ten:
Tuesday,
March 27
Presentations
on Germany: European Integration
and Immigration
Reading: Geddes, Chapter 4 ÒGermany: Normalised
Immigration Politics?Ó and stories on Germany under ÒManaging
DiversityÓ link
Discussion
Questions:
Historically,
what has been GermanyÕs stance on European integration and why? Has these attitude
changed over time? In response to
the end of communism, the admission of new member states in the East, the Euro
zone crisis? What has its role been
in mediating the Euro zone crisis?
What
is GermanyÕs position on admitting Turkey to the union?
Why
is the title of the Geddes chapter on immigration a question? What has
GermanyÕs approach to immigration/citizenship been historically? What events of the 20th
century challenged or strained this approach? How did German policies adapt to these
changes? How is German political culture and national identity being shaped by
its contemporary demographics? How
are the conditions presented by the early 21st century likely to
shape GermanyÕs approach to citizenship and diversity?
Thursday,
March 29
Presentations
on German healthcare system
Reading: Reid, Chpt. 5,
ÒGermany: Applied ChristianityÓ
Discussion
Questions:
What
does the design of the German healthcare system reveal about the political
culture of Germany in the 20th and 21st centuries? That is, what values are reflected in
its healthcare system? Does this
represent a shift in German political values compared to earlier
centuries? What caused this shift
in values?
Summing
Up Germany: How is Germany Facing
the Challenges of European Integration, Diversity, and Managing Its Welfare
State in the Early 21st Century?
Week
Eleven:
Tuesday,
April 3
Italy: Political Culture and History
Reading: Hancock book, Chpt.
4.1, 4.2 and 4.3
Thursday,
April 5
Italy: Political Institutions
Reading: Hancock book, Chpt.
4.3
Presentation
on Italy and European Integration
Discussion
Questions:
Historically,
what has been the Italian attitude toward the European Union and deeper
European integration and why? Is
Italy participating in the Euro?
Why or why not? How has it
been affected by the Eurozone crisis?
What is the Italian position on the future of the Euro?
Week
Twelve:
Tuesday,
April 10
Presentations
on Italian immigration policy and health care system
Reading: Geddes, Chapter 7 ÒSouthern Europe: Immigration Politics in New Immigration
CountriesÓ and stories on Italy under ÒManaging
DiversityÓ link
Discussion
Questions on Italy:
Why
is immigration a newer problem for Southern Europe? How does the geography of Southern
Europe affect its immigration/migration challenges? How are the migration/immigration
patterns of the South affected by problem in Africa and post-colonialism? What has the EUÕs role in shaping immigration
policies of the South been? How
does ItalyÕs approach to immigration reflect its political culture?
What
does the design of the Italian healthcare system reveal about the political
culture of Italy in the 20th and 21st centuries? That is, what values are reflected in
its healthcare system? Does this
represent a shift in Italian political values compared to earlier
centuries? What caused this shift
in values?
Summing
Up Italy: How is Italy Facing the
Challenges of European Integration, Diversity, and Managing Its Welfare State
in the Early 21st Century?
Thursday,
April 12
Sweden: Political Culture, History and Evolution
of The Scandinavian Model
Reading: Hancock book, Chpt.
5.1
Week
Thirteen:
Tuesday,
April 17
Sweden: Institutional Design
Reading: Hancock, Chpt.
5.2 and 5.3
Presentation
on Sweden and European integration
Discussion
questions:
Historically,
what has been the Swedish attitude toward the European Union and deeper
European integration and why? Is
Sweden participating in the Euro?
Why or why not? How has it
been affected by the Eurozone crisis?
What is the Swedish position on the future of the Euro?
Thursday,
April 19
Presentations on SwedenÕs immigration policy and health care
system
Reading: Geddes, Chapter 5 ÒMulticultural
Dilemmas in the Netherlands and SwedenÓ (just read parts on Sweden)
Discussion
Questions on Sweden:
When
and why did Sweden start becoming a more diverse society? How does this pattern reflect Swedish
political culture? Why has Sweden
moved in the direction of multiculturalism? What has caused Sweden to reconsider the
multicultural approach?
What
does the design of the Swedish healthcare system reveal about the political
culture of Sweden in the 20th and 21st centuries? That is, what values are reflected in
its healthcare system? Does this
represent a shift in Swedish political values compared to earlier
centuries? What caused this shift
in values?
Summing
Up Sweden: How is Sweden Facing the
Challenges of European Integration, Diversity, and Managing Its Welfare State
in the Early 21st Century?
Week
Fourteen:
Tuesday, April 24
Introduction
to the Post-Communist Transition of Central and Eastern Europe: One Europe?
What
are the main legacies of communism in the East?
Poland: History, Political Culture, National Identity
Reading: Hancock book, Chpt.
7.1
Thursday,
April 26
Polish
Political Institutions
Reading:
Hancock book, Chpt. 7.2 and 7.3
Presentation on Poland and European Integration
Discussion
questions:
How
have Polish attitudes toward the European Union and deeper European integration
been shaped by PolandÕs 20th Century history? Is Poland participating in the
Euro? Why or why not? How has it been affected by the Eurozone
crisis? What is the Polish position
on the future of the Euro?
Week Fifteen:
Tuesday,
May 1
Presentations
on PolandÕs immigration policy and health care system
Discussion
Questions on Poland:
What
are the sources of diversity in Polish society today? How is the Polish approach to political
culture reflected in its approach to immigration and migration? How has PolandÕs geography affected its
approach? What is the role of the
European Union in shaping PolandÕs approach to immigration and migration?
What
does the design of the Polish healthcare system reveal about the political
culture of Poland? That is, what
values are reflected in its healthcare system? Does this represent a shift in Polish
political values compared to earlier centuries? What caused this shift in values?
Summing
up Poland: How is Poland Facing the
Challenges of European Integration, Diversity, and Managing Its Welfare State
in the Early 21st Century?
Thursday,
May 3
Course
Wrap-Up and Review for Final
Comparing
Germany, Italy, Sweden and Poland
What
are the big trends and political issues confronting European countries
today? How are these countries
political cultures and histories shaping their responses to these trends and
issues?
Final
Exam
To be
taken on-line on Blackboard between 8:00 a.m., Friday, May 4 and 5:30 p.m, Wednesday, May 9