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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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