European Political Systems 2105-EPE-L-D2EPS

The Course is designed to provide students with through understanding of different political systems of selected European countries and European Union, as well as their inner political processes, and also the ideas and issues that have shaped contemporary European politics. The most important is to understand how these political systems work. The Republic or Monarchy, the Parliament, political parties, the Government and the Prime Minister, political ideology, political parties, party systems, legislation, political decision-making process, political culture are the main topics discussed in this curse. Throughout the course, comparisons with political systems in countries from Western European countries, as well as from Central and Eastern and Balkan states will be made as a point of reference to provide the student with a framework for understanding politics and society in Europe. Additionally during the classes the European Union's political system and the process of decision-making within the EU will be discussed.
Class sessions will include lectures and discussions and students are required to actively participate and contribute to these discussions. The required weekly reading will be presented by students in a seminar fashion. Students are required to pass the final test.
Whilst students are expected to learn the fundamentals of politics in countries in Europe and European Union this course is not about “memorizing” factual detail. Rather, they should approach this class from an “analytical” perspective. Students are also expected to keep up with current affairs in European countries by reading news.

Prerequisites (description)

The course European Political Systems is designed to familiarize students with the basic political system and institutional models of the political systems of European countries. The course focuses on a comparative analysis of the structures of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, with particular attention to their historical and constitutional conditions. The class introduces key concepts and theories in political science, enabling a systematic study of the diversity of political systems in Europe. The course develops the ability to critically analyze political processes and public institutions in democratic and non-democratic contexts. The course provides a basis for further in-depth study of comparative politics and European integration. Classes are taught in English and it is assumed that the student is fluent in this language and is ready to study independently, seek information and draw basic conclusions.

Course coordinators

Małgorzata Kaczorowska

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After the course student knows and understands to an advanced degree the basic processes and concepts of the development of the European Union, the relationship between the formation and functioning of the European Union and changes in the socio-cultural and economic-political spheres of the world and the continent (K_W04),

Moreover, the student is able to: observe and interpret diverse social phenomena occurring in Europe and the European Union
and analyze interrelationships between cultural, political, economic, legal spheres in internal and external dimension (K_U01),
- (K_U01), as well as know how to analyze at a basic level solutions of concrete problems of social, political, economic area of European Union and Europe and propose appropriate solutions (K_U05),

After the course graduates will be ready to represent in an institutionalized manner the diverse interests of various groups
socially, taking into account the political, economic and legal aspects of the initiatives taken (K_K05).

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
• have a thorough understanding of the different types of political systems in Europe;
• have a good understanding of legal basis of the European political systems and political system of European Union (EU);
• have a thorough understanding of the system of government and the political process in European Countries as well as in European Union;
• acquire a good grasp of the key political/historical/ideological developments in post WWII Europe and EU;
• become familiar with current issues/debates in contemporary politics in European countries and in EU.

Assessment criteria

Classes are conducted by the method of teaching conversation (problem-oriented and informative, using the [activating] case study method); in addition, during the course of the class, discussions are held with students and among students, on the topics indicated in the program. During the course of classes there are mandatory presentations by students, prepared either individually or in small groups, which will be a component of the final grade (at 33%).
The class ends with a written colloquium (test with open-ended questions) no later than at the last class of the semester. The basis for passing is the grade from the colloquium. Failure to pass the colloquium does not allow to obtain a passing grade for the entire course.

Practical placement

The use of AI tools and technologies supporting language processing is allowed only with the approval of the instructor and after agreeing on the scope of their use in accordance with Resolution No. 29/2025 (for the UPPS No 11/2025) of the Didactic Council of the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw.

Level 3 Use of AI is allowed; that is: REDACTION
SUPPORTED BY AI, which means that:
The use of AI tools is allowed during the editing of the thesis, but the original version without traces of AI use must be added in an appendix.

Bibliography

CORE TEXT BOOKS:
1. Tim Bale (2017), European Politics. A comparative Introduction, 4th edn, London: Palgrave, Macmillan, (3rd edn 2013).
2. Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, William A. Joseph (eds.), Introduction to Comparative Politics: Political Challenges and Changing Agendas, 5th edn. Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Canada (Boston, USA) 2010.
3. Nóra Chronowski, Tímea Drinóczi, Tamara Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Oficyna a Wolter Kluwer business, Warszawa 2011.
4. Arend Lijphart (1999 or 2012), Patterns of Democracy. Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries, Yale University Press, New Haven and London.
5. Andrzej Antoszewski (2010), Parties and party systems in the EU Member States at the Turn of the 20th and 21st Centuries, Toruń: Adam Marszałek.
6. Tamara Takacs (2011), The Governmental System of the European Union, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Warszawa: Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, pp. 35-73.
7. Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, William A. Joseph (eds.), Introduction to Comparative Politics: Political Challenges and Changing Agendas, 5th edn. Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Canada (Boston, USA) 2010.
8. Tim Bale (2017), European Politics. A comparative Introduction, 4th edn, London: Palgrave, Macmillan, (3rd edn 2013).
9. A. Antoszewski, Parties and party systems in the EU Member States at the Turn of the 20th and 21st Centuries, Edn. Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2010 (selected parts).
10. K. Sobolewska-Myślik, B. Kosowska-Gąstoł B., P. Borowiec (eds.) (2016), Organisational Structures of Political Parties in Central and Eastern European Countries. Wyd. Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, Jagiellonian University Press, Kraków, pp. 11-20; 311-327.
11. J. Blondel, Types of Party Systems. Blondel Reading, from Peter Mair (ed.) The West European Party System, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1990, pp. 302-310; http://janda.org/c24/Readings/Blondel/blondel.html, December 2011.
12. Alan Ware (1996), Political Parties and Party Systems, Oxford: Oxford University Press, , pp. 17-62, 147-244.
13. Maurice Duverger (2009), The Two-Party System and the Multiparty System, and Robert A. Dahl, Party Systems and Patterns of Opposition, and Jean Blondel, Types of Party System, and Stein Rokkan, The Electoral Balance, and Giovanni Sartori, A Typology of Party Systems, In: Peter Mair (ed.), The West European Party System, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 285-350.
14. Giovanni Sartori (1997 or in BUW 1994), Comparative Constitutional Engineering. An Inquiry into Structures, Incentives and Outcomes, 2nd edn, Basingstoke: Palgrave, Macmillan; “Presidentialism”: p. 83-100; “Parliamentary Systems”: p. 101-120; “Semi-Presidentialism”: p. 121-142.
15. Bill Jones, Dennis Kavanagh, Michael Moran, Philip Norton (2004), Politics UK, 5th or latest edition, Harlow-Sydney-Milan: Pearson, Longman.
15. Dennis Kavanagh, David Richards, Martin Smith, Andrew Geddes, British Politics, 5th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2006; Chapters: 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24.
16. Hilaire Barnett (2003), Constitutional & Administrative Law, 4th or latest edition, London-Sydney: Cavendish Publishing.
17. Dawn Oliwer (2003), Constitutional reform in the UK, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
18. Jeffrey Jowell and Dawn Oliver (eds.) (2004), the Changing Constitution, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
19. Cillian McGrattan, Northern Ireland 1968-2008. The Politics of Entrenchment, Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke 2010;pp.58-89-121;pp.127-189.
20. United Kingdom’s Constitution of 1215 with Amendments through 2013, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Kingdom_2013.pdf?lang=en , (accessed February 1, 2020).
21. Martin Bull, Martin Rhodes (ed.), Italy - a Contested Polity, West European Politics Series, Routledge, London and New York 2009, pp. 55-77.
22. James L. Newell, The Politics of Italy. Governance in a Normal Country, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2010; Chapters: 1, 2, 3.
23. Italy’s Constitution of 1947 with Amendments through 2012, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012.pdf?lang=en.
24. Simon Green, Dan Hough and Alister Miskimmon, The Politics of the new Germany, 2nd edn. Routledge, London, New York, Oxon, 2012; Chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5.
25. M. Donald Hancock, Henry Krisch, Politics in Germany, CQ Press, A Division of Sage, Washington DC2012; Chapters:3,4,5, 6,7.
26. Germany’s Constitution of 1949 with Amendments through 2014, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/German_Federal_Republic_2014.pdf?lang=en.
27. R. Gunter, J. R. Montero (2009), The Politics of Spain (Cambridge Textbooks in Comparative Politics), Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
28. Spain’s Constitution of 1978 with Amendments through 2011, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011.pdf?lang=en (accessed February 1, 2020).
29. Jose M. Magone (2014), Politics in Contemporary Portugal: Democracy Evolving, Lynne Rienner Publishers, https://www.rienner.com/uploads/52f12b65dc169.pdf , (accessed February 1, 2020).
30. Portugal’s Constitution of 1976 with Amendments through 2005, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Portugal_2005.pdf .
31. Charles Hauss, Politics in France, CQ Press, A Division of Congressional Quarterly Inc., Washington DC 2011; Chapters: 1, 5, 6, 7, 11.
32. France’s Constitution of 1958 with Amendments through 2008, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/France_2008.pdf?lang=en , (accessed February 1, 2020).
33. Jaakko Nousiainen (2014), The Finnish Political System, Harvard: Harvard University Press.
34. Pertti Pesonen, Olavi Riihinen (2002), Dynamic Finland: The Political System and the Welfare State, Studia Fennica Historica,
Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society, SKS.
35. Finland’s Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2011, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Finland_2011.pdf?lang=en.
36. J. Filip, P. Molek, L. Vyhnanek, Governance in the Czech Republic, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, Warszawa 2011; Czech Republic: pp. 166-234.
37. Czech Republic’s Constitution of 1993 with Amendments through 2002, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Czech_Republic_2002.pdf, (accessed February 2, 2020).
38. N. Chronowski, T. Drinoczi, J. Petretei (2011), The Governmental System of Hungary, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Warszawa: Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, pp. 299-366.
39. Constitution of Hungary 1949, https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/hu/hu047en.pdf (accessed February 2020).
40. Hungary's Constitution of 2011 with Amendments through 2013, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Hungary_2013.pdf?lang=en , (accessed February 2020).
41. Judy Dempsey, Hungarian Parliament Approves New Constitution, “The New York Times”, 18 April 2011; https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/world/europe/19iht-hungary19.html.
42. Z. Lauc, S. Ivanda, The Croatian Governmental System, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, Warszawa 2011, pp. 117-165.
43. The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia of 15 January 2014, https://www.usud.hr/sites/default/files/dokumenti/The_consolidated_text_of_the_Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Croatia_as_of_15_January_2014.pdf.
44. Tom Gallagher (1998), The Balkans: Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Former Yugoslavia, In: Stephen White, Judy Batt and Paul G. Lewis (eds.) (1998), Developments in Central and East European Politics 2, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Clive H. Church (2004), The Politics and Government of Switzerland, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
45. The Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999, https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html, or http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CH/Switzerland%20Constitution%202002.pdf, (accessed February 2020).
46. Kris Deschouwer, The Politics of Belgium. Governing a Divided Society, Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke 2009, Chapters: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,10.
47. Marleen Brans, Lieven de Winter and Wilfried Swenden, The Politics of Belgium. Institutions and policy under bipolar and centrifugal federalism, West European Politics Series, Routledge, London, New York, Oxon 2009.
48. Switzerland’s Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2014, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Switzerland_2014.pdf?lang=en.
Jon Pierre (ed.) (2015 or 2018), The Oxford Handbook of Swedish Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
49. Knutsen Oddbjorn (2017), Nordic Models in Political Science. Challenged, but Still Viable?, Fagbokforlaget.
50. Elżbieta Kużelewska (2008), The Political System of Sweden. In: Elżbieta Kużelewska, Contemporary Political Systems, Białystok: TEMIDA2, p. 35-38.
51. Dermot Hodson, John Peterson (2017), The Institutions of the European Union, Fourth Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
52. John McCormick (2020), European Union Politics, 3rd edn, London: Macmillan.
53. Andreas Staab (2013), The European Union Explained: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact, 3rd edn, Indiana University Press.
54. John Peterson, Michael Shackleton (2012), The Institutions of the European Union, 3rd edn, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
55. The European Union explained: How the EU works. Your guide to the EU Institutions. (November 2014), https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9a6a89dc-4ed7-4bb9-a9f7-53d7f1fb1dae/language-en/format-PDF/source-search (accessed 17.02.2020).
56. The European Union, What it is and what it does. (2020), https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/ac0a88a6-4369-11ea-b81b-01aa75ed71a1/language-en (accessed 17.02.2020).

Term 2024L:

Materials fo concrete classes:
15. Bill Jones, Dennis Kavanagh, Michael Moran, Philip Norton (2004), Politics UK, 5th or latest edition, Harlow-Sydney-Milan: Pearson, Longman.
16. Dennis Kavanagh, David Richards, Martin Smith, Andrew Geddes, British Politics, 5th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2006; Chapters: 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24.
18. Hilaire Barnett (2003), Constitutional & Administrative Law, 4th or latest edition, London-Sydney: Cavendish Publishing.
19. Dawn Oliwer (2003), Constitutional reform in the UK, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
20. Jeffrey Jowell and Dawn Oliver (eds.) (2004), the Changing Constitution, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
21. Cillian McGrattan, Northern Ireland 1968-2008. The Politics of Entrenchment, Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke 2010;pp.58-89-121;pp.127-189.
22. United Kingdom’s Constitution of 1215 with Amendments through 2013, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Kingdom_2013.pdf?lang=en , (accessed February 1, 2020).
23. Martin Bull, Martin Rhodes (ed.), Italy - a Contested Polity, West European Politics Series, Routledge, London and New York 2009, pp. 55-77.
24. James L. Newell, The Politics of Italy. Governance in a Normal Country, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2010; Chapters: 1, 2, 3.
25. Italy’s Constitution of 1947 with Amendments through 2012, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Italy_2012.pdf?lang=en.
26. Simon Green, Dan Hough and Alister Miskimmon, The Politics of the new Germany, 2nd edn. Routledge, London, New York, Oxon, 2012; Chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5.
27. M. Donald Hancock, Henry Krisch, Politics in Germany, CQ Press, A Division of Sage, Washington DC2012; Chapters:3,4,5, 6,7.
28. Germany’s Constitution of 1949 with Amendments through 2014, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/German_Federal_Republic_2014.pdf?lang=en.
29. R. Gunter, J. R. Montero (2009), The Politics of Spain (Cambridge Textbooks in Comparative Politics), Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
30. Spain’s Constitution of 1978 with Amendments through 2011, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Spain_2011.pdf?lang=en (accessed February 1, 2020).
31. Jose M. Magone (2014), Politics in Contemporary Portugal: Democracy Evolving, Lynne Rienner Publishers, https://www.rienner.com/uploads/52f12b65dc169.pdf , (accessed February 1, 2020).
32. Portugal’s Constitution of 1976 with Amendments through 2005, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Portugal_2005.pdf .
33. Charles Hauss, Politics in France, CQ Press, A Division of Congressional Quarterly Inc., Washington DC 2011; Chapters: 1, 5, 6, 7, 11.
34. France’s Constitution of 1958 with Amendments through 2008, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/France_2008.pdf?lang=en , (accessed February 1, 2020).
35. Jaakko Nousiainen (2014), The Finnish Political System, Harvard: Harvard University Press.
36. Pertti Pesonen, Olavi Riihinen (2002), Dynamic Finland: The Political System and the Welfare State, Studia Fennica Historica,
Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society, SKS.
37. Finland’s Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2011, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Finland_2011.pdf?lang=en.
38. J. Filip, P. Molek, L. Vyhnanek, Governance in the Czech Republic, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, Warszawa 2011; Czech Republic: pp. 166-234.
39. Czech Republic’s Constitution of 1993 with Amendments through 2002, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Czech_Republic_2002.pdf, (accessed February 2, 2020).
40. N. Chronowski, T. Drinoczi, J. Petretei (2011), The Governmental System of Hungary, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Warszawa: Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, pp. 299-366.
41. Constitution of Hungary 1949, https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/hu/hu047en.pdf (accessed February 2020).
42. Hungary's Constitution of 2011 with Amendments through 2013, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Hungary_2013.pdf?lang=en , (accessed February 2020).
43. Judy Dempsey, Hungarian Parliament Approves New Constitution, “The New York Times”, 18 April 2011; https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/world/europe/19iht-hungary19.html.
44. Z. Lauc, S. Ivanda, The Croatian Governmental System, [in:] Nora Chronowski, T. Drinóczi, T. Takács, Governmental Systems of Central and Eastern European States, 1st edn., Oficyna Wolter Kluwer Business, Warszawa 2011, pp. 117-165.
45. The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia of 15 January 2014, https://www.usud.hr/sites/default/files/dokumenti/The_consolidated_text_of_the_Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Croatia_as_of_15_January_2014.pdf.
46. Tom Gallagher (1998), The Balkans: Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Former Yugoslavia, In: Stephen White, Judy Batt and Paul G. Lewis (eds.) (1998), Developments in Central and East European Politics 2, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Clive H. Church (2004), The Politics and Government of Switzerland, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
47. The Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999, https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html, or http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CH/Switzerland%20Constitution%202002.pdf, (accessed February 2020).
48. Kris Deschouwer, The Politics of Belgium. Governing a Divided Society, Palgrave McMillan, Basingstoke 2009, Chapters: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,10.
49. Marleen Brans, Lieven de Winter and Wilfried Swenden, The Politics of Belgium. Institutions and policy under bipolar and centrifugal federalism, West European Politics Series, Routledge, London, New York, Oxon 2009.
50. Switzerland’s Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2014, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Switzerland_2014.pdf?lang=en.
Jon Pierre (ed.) (2015 or 2018), The Oxford Handbook of Swedish Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
51. Elżbieta Kużelewska (2008), The Political System of Sweden. In: Elżbieta Kużelewska, Contemporary Political Systems, Białystok: TEMIDA2, p. 35-38.
52. Dermot Hodson, John Peterson (2017), The Institutions of the European Union, Fourth Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
53. John McCormick (2020), European Union Politics, 3rd edn, London: Macmillan.
54. Andreas Staab (2013), The European Union Explained: Institutions, Actors, Global Impact, 3rd edn, Indiana University Press.
55. John Peterson, Michael Shackleton (2012), The Institutions of the European Union, 3rd edn, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
56. The European Union explained: How the EU works. Your guide to the EU Institutions. (November 2014), https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9a6a89dc-4ed7-4bb9-a9f7-53d7f1fb1dae/language-en/format-PDF/source-search (accessed 17.02.2020).
57. The European Union, What it is and what it does. (2020), https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/ac0a88a6-4369-11ea-b81b-01aa75ed71a1/language-en (accessed 17.02.2020).

Term 2025L:

Notes

Term 2024L:

None.

Term 2025L:

Level 3 Use of AI is allowed; that is: REDACTION
SUPPORTED BY AI, which means that:
The use of AI tools is allowed during the editing of a presentation or essay only, but the original version without traces of AI use must be added in an appendix.

Additional information

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

Description of 2105-EPE-L-D2EPS in USOSweb