COMPARATIVE HISTORY OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS

The course is designed to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of democracy by examining the political history of twentieth-century Europe.

A solid general knowledge of nineteenth- and twentieth-century history.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to analyze political issues from a historical perspective; critically evaluate and interpret primary and secondary sources; articulate their reflections in a clear, coherent, and well-structured manner, both orally and in writing; and defend their arguments effectively in academic discussion with instructors and peers.

The course examines the political history of European democracy since 1945: the foundation or re-foundation of Western European democracies after the war; the drafting of new constitutions; the development of party systems; the evolution of the public sphere in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s; and the political challenges of the new millennium. Historical events will be analysed within a long-term methodological and conceptual framework that considers political modernity, beginning in the late eighteenth century.

There is no single textbook. Instead, a selection of weekly readings will be assigned. Students will be asked to give a five-minute presentation summarizing each reading, followed by comments and discussion in class. Readings for the first five weeks can be found at the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/v9motdnlzbplsk3ujpj9e/AItrpWci_fiTri2JcGOrcM4?rlkey=emz7uunqb5vrbvfzhukmxhtvp&dl=0 In addition, students are expected to purchase and read: G. Gerstle, The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order: America and the World in the Free Market Era, Oxford University Press, 2022.

Group presentations Friday sessions in Weeks 5, 6, and 8–12 will be devoted to group presentations. Groups of three to four students will have 20 minutes (strictly observed) to present the assigned historical document, followed by discussion. Slides must be sent by email to both the instructor and the teaching assistant no later than the Sunday preceding the presentation. Presentations, together with class participation, will account for one-third of the final grade. Presentation grades may not be refused and will remain valid for all exam sessions. Essays and presentations Presentations and essays are research exercises. Documents assigned by the instructor are starting points: students must contextualize them, analyse their origins, meaning, and impact, and engage with scholarly literature. Essays must follow academic conventions: introduction with rationale and structure, organized sections, references, and bibliography.

Exams A written midterm exam will take place on October 24, covering the readings and lectures from Weeks 1 to 5. It will consist of one question to be answered in 60 minutes. The grade will be valid only for students who take the final exam during the winter exam session, and it will account for one-third of the final grade. The midterm is optional, but its grade cannot be refused. For those who have taken the midterm, the written final exam during the regular exam session will cover the readings and lectures from Weeks 6 to 12. It will consist of one question to be answered in 60 minutes and will count for one-third of the final grade. Students who do not take the midterm will sit for a two-hour written final exam with two questions covering the entire course. Non-attending students Non-attending students will take a two-hour written final exam consisting of two questions on the entire program. The exam will count for two-thirds of the final grade. In addition, they must submit a 2,000-word essay on one of the documents discussed in class. The essay must be sent by email to both the instructor and the teaching assistant at least three weeks before the chosen exam date. The essay will account for the remaining one-third of the grade.