The European countries that lie at the Southern
flanks of the continent share common political,
economic, and cultural aspects that set them
apart from their Western neighbors. For instance,
they consolidated their democracies later and, with
the exception of Italy, joined the European Community
around thirty years after its creation. This course will
study the politics, society, and economy of Portugal,
Spain, Italy, and Greece from a comparative perspective.
First, the state structure, party politics, and electoral
systems of the Southern European countries will be
introduced. Second, the causes, policies, and the collapse
of the interwar authoritarian regimes of Salazar,
Franco, Mussolini, and Metaxas will be examined. In this
context, special emphasis will be given to how democracy
consolidated in Southern Europe. Continuing political
problems, such as Basque nationalism in Spain, the
Sicilian mafia in Italy, and the Muslim minority in Greece
will also be discussed. Finally, the course will conclude
with the entrance of the Southern European countries to the
European Community, their policies and roles within the
Union, and the effects of the EU on Southern Europe.
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