Studies on State and Politics 2105-EPE-L-D1SSAP
Topic 1. Nature of politics and state
Legitimacy and democracy. Major ideological traditions. Political implications of nationalism and national identities. Classical, empirical and normative theories of politics.
The concept and principles of political analysis.
Topic 2. Politics and society: control of violence
State monopoly on violence. Historical bifurcation of violence and the role of wars in the formation of modern states.
Macro-economic management and control of violence.
Topic 3. Politics and society: institutions and cooperation
Politics and economics. Cultural traditions. Lock-in effect and path dependance. Institutions and organisations.
Comparative case studies of selected countries.
Topic 4. Political systems and systems of government: definition and classification
Concentration and sharing of executive power. Executive-legislative relations. Two dimensions and ten basic variables of political systems.
Topic 5. Political representation: elections, voting behaviour, political processes
Revolution and political order. Westminster model of democracy. Consensus model of democracy. Two-party and multiparty patterns of party systems. Executive-legislative relations. Electoral systems: majoritarian, proportional, mixed. Citizen engagement. Interest groups. Division of power. Reform and political change.
Topic 6. Legislatures and their impact
Organisation of legislature. Factors affecting the impact of legislature on policy making. Group politics: parties, factions, coalitions, interest groups. Logrolling. Lobbying. Budgetary process.
Topic 7. Judiciaries and the their impact. Territorial configuration of politics, domestic and international security, world order in the XXI century
Judicial activism. Constitutional amendment procedures. Constitutional justice and constitutional control.
Territorial division of power. Multilevel politics. Security: domestic and international. World order and global governance.
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Term 2025Z:
As in the section "General information on the course". |
Type of course
Course coordinators
Term 2025Z: | Term 2024Z: |
Learning outcomes
The student knows and understands
at an extended level the basic theories explaining the international relations of states and the processes of international integration, with particular emphasis on European integration.
basic and diverse methods, tools, and techniques for acquiring and processing data on the European Union and in the social and economic sciences.
basic stages and dimensions of the development of European philosophical thought, including currents of thought on the state, power, and social structures.
The student is able to
observe and interpret diverse social phenomena occurring in Europe and the European Union and analyze the connections between cultural, political, economic, and legal areas, both internally and externally.
utilize diverse theoretical knowledge and social science research methods to acquire and interpret data on the European Union and European countries.
Assessment criteria
Criteria of assessment
Tests - the maximum total score is 50 points
Written exam - the maximum score is 50 points
Test 1: Topics 1, 2, 3 (the maximum score is 20 points)
Test 2: Topics 4, 5 (the maximum score is 15 points)
Test 3: Topics 6, 7 (the maximum score is 15 points)
The final number of points on the 100 points scale is converted into the protocol scale as follows:
100 points scale Protocol scale
96-100 5!
90-95 5
82-89 4,5
75-81 4
68-74 3,5
60-67 3
0-59 2
Bibliography
Topic 1. Nature of politics and state
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 2, Ch. 3, Ch. 4, p.27-55, p. 56-79, p. 80-107
Haas, M., & Kariel, H. S. (1970). Approaches to the study of political science. Chandler publications in political science. Part II (Political Theory), p. 51-124.
Dahl, R. A. (1991). Modern political analysis. Prentice Hall. Ch. 5, Ch. 6, p. 46-69.
Topic 2. Politics and society: control of violence
Tilly, C. (2003). Contention and Democracy in Europe, 1650–2000. Cambridge University Press. Ch. 3, p. 67-95. Ch. 6, p. 161-191.
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 5, p. 108-127.
Lijphart, Arend. (1999). Patterns of Democracy Government. Form and Performance in 36 Countries. Ch. 15, p. 258-274.
Topic 3. Politics and society: institutions and cooperation
North, D. C. (2005). Understanding the process of economic change. Ch. 3, Ch.1, Ch. 5, p. 23-37, 1-8, 48-64.
North, D. C., Wallis, J. Joseph., Webb, S. Benjamin., & Weingast, B. R. . (2013). In the shadow of violence : politics, economics, and the problems of development. One. Limited Access Orders: An Introduction to the Conceptual Network, p. 1-23.
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 6, p. 128-150. Ch. 8, p. 171-195.
Topic 4. Political systems and systems of government: definition and classification
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 12, p. 265-283. Ch. 13, p. 284-308.
Lijphart, Arend. (1999). Patterns of Democracy Government. Form and Performance in 36 Countries. Ch. 6, 7, p. 90-142.
Additional source (recommended, but not required):
Huntington, S. P. (1968). Political Order in Changing Societies. Yale University.
Topic 5. Political representation: elections, voting behaviour, political processes
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 9, 10, 11 p. 196-264.
Lijphart, Arend. (1999). Patterns of Democracy Government. Form and Performance in 36 Countries. Ch. 2, 3, p. 9-47. Ch. 8, 143-170.
Additional source (recommended, but not required):
Huntington, S. P. (1968). Political Order in Changing Societies. Yale University.
Topic 6. Legislatures and their impact
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 14, p. 309-330.
Lijphart, Arend. (1999). Patterns of Democracy Government. Form and Performance in 36 Countries. Ch. 9, p.171-184. Ch. 11, p. 200-215.
Topic 7. Judiciaries and the their impact. Territorial configuration of politics, domestic and international security, world order in the XXI century
Heywood, Andrew. (2013). Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. Ch. 15, p. 331-350. Ch. 17, 18, 19, p. 378-442.
Lijphart, Arend. (1999). Patterns of Democracy Government. Form and Performance in 36 Countries. Ch. 10, p. 185-199.
|
Term 2025Z:
As in the section "General information on the course". |
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: