POLS143 Политически системи: Как са устроени държавите?
Анотация:
The course aims to present basic knowledge about the genesis, diachronic development and evolution of contemporary political systems and to facilitate students to produce a relevant scientific product on their chosen or assigned topic. Therefore, it will provide students with the chance to examine individually and under the guidance of the lecturer the origin of modern politics and the factors that shape the process of its functioning. It will also lead the students via intensive discussions and individual or group research assignments through the evolution of the major driving forces that had driven and influenced the political systems, comparing them and drawing conclusions about the various actors and factors involved. Finally, students will have the opportunity during in class discussions to draw comparisons between the various types of political systems, which do exist currently in 21st century presenting their individual/group research projects.
Преподавател(и):
гл. ас. Иван Начев д-р
гл. ас. Любомир Стефанов д-р
Описание на курса:
Компетенции:
After completing successfully this course the students will:
1) know:
- basic facts and points from the evolution of modern political systems both in Europe and around the world
- the basic models of development of political systems
- how political systems evolved and developed over time
2) are capable of:
- draw initial comparison between different political systems
- analyze the major factors and challenges, which influenced the development of the political systems
Предварителни изисквания:
• Excellent English language;
• a minimum of knowledge of modern history with social and political perspective
Форми на провеждане:
Редовен
Учебни форми:
Лекция
Език, на който се води курса:
Английски
Теми, които се разглеждат в курса:
- Public and private life – discussion about the different possible aspects of contemporary sociopolitical environment.
- What is politics?
- Systems. Political systems – discussion
- Evolution of political systems – from ancient democracy to modern western-type liberal democracy: a comparison between Ancient Athens polity/society and contemporary examples (USA, UK, Belgium)
- Revolutions and their legacy – the Glorious revolution, the French, the American and the Russian ones
- Modes of political systems – is there a variety or a fluctuating pattern?
- Political regimes. Monarchy vs. Republic – exotic or efficient division?
- Communist and post-communist political systems
- Contemporary and ancient Theocracies
- Actors and factors: who, what, how and when influences the processes in politics and political systems. “Occupy Wall street”, The Anonymous, Globalist movement. Save the Earth, Yellow vests, Brexit.
- Presentations and discussion
- Presentations and discussion
Литература по темите:
READINGS:
• Mandatory
Berglund, S., Aarebrot, F.H., Vogt, H. and Karasimeonov, G. “Challenges to Democracy”, Societal Fragmentation and Post-Communist Party Politics, Elgar, 2001
Caramani D. (eds.) Comparative Politics. Oxford University Press 2008
Lijphart, A. Electoral Systems and Party Systems, A Study of Twenty-Seven Democracies, 1945–1990, Oxford University Press 1994
Modern Political Thought: A reader
Politics: The Basics
Zakaria, Fareed The Future of Freedom-illiberal democracy at home and abroad, Norton, New York, 2007.
• Additional
Hood, Christopher The Art of the State: Culture, Rhetoric, and Public Management, Oxford University Press, 2000
Inglehart, R. The Silent Revolution: Changing Values and Political Styles among Western Politics, Princeton University Press,1977
Klingemann Hans-Dieter and Fuchs Dieter, Citizens and the State, Oxford University Press 1998, part III and IV
Morlino, Leonardo Changes for Democracy: Actors, Structures, Processes, Oxford University Press 2011
Средства за оценяване:
The students are expected to participate actively in class discussions and during the teaching process. The current grade consists of three parts: 1) essay writing (3-4 assignments, one of which to be a research one); 2) seminar discussion-each student will be part of team or will individually present a specific political system characteristics and compare them to other teams' assignments and 3) overall participation in class.
A student can get an exemption from the final exam if achieving a current grade of 5.5 or above during the semester. If failing to do so, only after meeting all preliminary above mentioned requirements, students will have to attend the final exam at the end of the semester.