This course has a dual aim:
a) To present to future graduates the main dimensions considered when comparing and analyzing different political systems and processes;
b) To provide them with theoretical and practical tools that facilitate a scientific understanding of political systems and their strategic relevance in various professional fields.
Students will deepen their understanding?based on scientific criteria?of the reality of different political systems. Throughout the course, both theoretical and practical aspects of the dimensions that shape political systems will be covered.
Firstly, by using the comparative method to identify similarities and differences (and their causes) among political systems and processes.
Secondly, by studying the basic elements that make up contemporary political systems.
The course aims to contribute to students? scientific training (through the teaching of theories and methodological tools) and professional development (through the analysis of case studies).
UNIT 1: COMPARISON IN SOCIAL SCIENCES
Topic 1: Comparison and case analysis in Social Sciences
1.1 What does it mean to compare in social sciences? The comparative method
1.2 Case analysis in Political Science
UNIT 2: POLITICAL REGIMES
Topic 2: Democratic and non-democratic regimes
2.1 Authoritarian, totalitarian, and theocratic regimes
2.2 Hybrid regimes
2.3 Types of democracy. Adjective democracy and quality of democracy
Topic 3: Political change processes
3.1 Transitions, liberalizations, democratizations, revolutions
3.2 Democratic consolidation
UNIT 3: FORMS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT
Topic 4: Forms of State
4.1 Federal systems vs. unitary systems. Intermediate situations
4.2 Sub-national realities in federal and unitary systems
Topic 5: Forms of government
5.1 Presidentialism, parliamentarism, and semi-presidentialism
5.2 Criticisms of forms of government
UNIT 4: PARTY SYSTEMS AND POLITICAL CULTURE
Topic 6: Party systems
6.1 Social and political cleavages
6.2 Characteristics of party systems
6.3 Populism and party system change
Topic 7: Political culture
7.1 Concept and elements of political culture
The course will be taught through theoretical and practical classes, with a clear analytical and methodological focus.
The core study materials will be the lectures given by the professor and the mandatory readings.
In addition to lectures, students will carry out practical exercises focused on data analysis using both comparative methodology and statistical analysis.
Ordinary call:
To be assessed in the ordinary call, students must complete all required assessment activities. These must be submitted by the deadlines set by the instructor.
If, for a duly justified reason and communicated in advance, a student cannot submit them within the given timeframe, they may do so before the date of the final exam, in which case the professor will evaluate the work but is not obliged to provide feedback.
Students have the right to sit the final written exam even if not all other assignments have been submitted; however, the final grade for the course will only be calculated if all components have been completed and according to the criteria and weightings defined in the syllabus.
If any required assessment activity is not submitted or completed, the student will appear as "Not Presented" in the academic record.
Extraordinary call:
The same assessment criteria as the ordinary call apply. All course assessment activities must be submitted. Grades from completed tasks (including the final written exam) will be retained until the pending ones are submitted.
The same weighting criteria used in the ordinary call will be applied. This arrangement is valid only within the current academic year. If the extraordinary call is not passed, re-enrollment will require repeating the entire course.
Final written exam: 50%
Research assignments/practical work: 50%
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