Elections and Voters 2100-ERASMUS-ELVO

After completing the course, students will have knowledge of:
- electoral procedures and their role in democratic political regimes at the national, European, and international levels (K_W06);
- the essence of representative democracy, electoral participation, and electoral behavior in historical and contemporary terms (K_W07);
- key mechanisms of electoral competition, electoral decision-making by citizens, and political communication in election campaigns, with particular emphasis on the influence of the media and campaign strategies (K_W09).

After completing the course, students will be able to:
- recognize the causes, course, and effects of electoral processes and electoral behavior, as well as analyze and predict changes in voter preferences in the context of social, economic, and cultural conditions (K_U01);
- identify and explain the principles and values of electoral democracy and political participation, as well as assess the importance of political culture and civic attitudes for the functioning of electoral processes (K_U02);
- use basic theoretical approaches to elections and electoral behavior and to use research methods and techniques (quantitative and qualitative) in the analysis of election results, campaigns, and public opinion (K_U03);
-identify the assumptions of various concepts of electoral competition and political communication and assess their effectiveness, taking into account the relationship between electoral processes and the historical, economic, social, and cultural context (K_U01).

After completing the course, students will:
– be ready to actively and responsibly participate in public life, particularly in electoral processes and in teams pursuing social, political, and civic goals; be able to think and act in an entrepreneurial manner, including in the context of campaign activities and voter turnout initiatives )K_K01);
– is ready to properly identify and resolve dilemmas related to the analysis and practice of electoral processes, including ethical dilemmas concerning political communication, election campaigns, and public opinion polls (K_K02);
– is prepared to systematically observe and critically evaluate phenomena related to elections and electoral behavior, as well as to recognize the relationships and dependencies between electoral processes and social, cultural, economic, and media conditions (K_K03).

Before the class students have to complete all assigned readings to take part in discussion about the research they have read.

Course grade will be determined by a combination of the following factors:
- class participation in discussions (acctivity assesment),
- discussion papers
- 1 presentation on voting behaviour in chosen state (project).

Regular attendance is expected. More than 2 unexcused absences need to be complete during office hours.

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Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of 2100-ERASMUS-ELVO in USOSweb