This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to theories and facts about political parties, comparative political party systems, interest or pressure groups, and interest group systems. The objective of the course is to teach students how organized political action takes shape, and how such action influence the structure of party and interest group systems.
Comparative Party Systems and Electoral Behavior (POLS 404)
Programs\Type | Required | Core Elective | Area Elective |
Decision and Behavior Minor | * | ||
International Studies | * | ||
International Studies | * | ||
Political Science | * | ||
Political Science and International Relations | * | ||
Political Science and International Relations | * | ||
Political Science (Previous Name: Social and Political Sciences) | * |
CONTENT
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this course is to introduce undergraduate and graduate students to the classical and contemporary literatures on party and electoral politics in established democracies to seek answers to the following questions: What and whose policy and ideological positions do political parties represent? Are party systems plastic or do they allow ``new'' parties to be represented in legislatures? Who are such new political actors in representative democracies and what alternatives do they present to their constituents? How and to what extent legislative elections serve as a means of popular control over policy-making? How do individuals make their decisions to turn out and vote for particular parties/candidates, and what are the behavioral, instrumental, expressive, and strategic determinants of their behavior?
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Upon completion of this course, the students will have a thorough understanding of the roles institutional and political contexts, and socio-demographic factors play in shaping party competition and individual behavior; historical, institutional, and ideological origins of political parties; and the roles of elections and representative democracy in translating public choice into public policy.
- Over the course of the semester, we will first examine several important roles political parties play in representative democracies, and the institutional and sociological explanations of their origins in Western European democracies.
- We will then delve into distinct types of cleavages that newer parties represent in both advanced and developing democracies.
- In the last part of the semester, we will focus on the other party of the reciprocal relationship between public opinion and policy --the electorate.
- Lastly, we will touch upon behavioral, rational, and mixed explanations of electoral behavior to make sense of the increasing prominence of niche parties, political polarization, and populism in the last couple of decades as well as the future of the representative democracy.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES
1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 5
2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 4
3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 5
4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 5
5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 3
1. Analyze global affairs from international relations and economics perspectives. 2
2. Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of the international affairs. 2
3. Compete for increasing opportunities in careers within the newly emerging global institutions. 4
4. Evaluate the international political events and present their views and positions on international affairs with advanced oral and written skills. 4
1. To analyze national and global events from various social science perspectives. 5
2. To demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge on political science and international relations and to state views and positions with advanced oral and written skills. 5
3. To compete for increasing career opportunities in national and global institutions. 4
4. To (be able to) understand and follow the changes in political behaviours, opinions and structures. 5
5. To gain the ability to make logical inferences on social and political issues based on comparative and historical knowledge. 5
1. Understand and follow changes in patterns of political behavior, ideas and structures. 5
2. Develop the ability to make logical inferences about social and political issues on the basis of comparative and historical knowledge. 5
Update Date:
ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA
Percentage (%) | |
Final | 30 |
Midterm | 25 |
Assignment | 25 |
Participation | 20 |
RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS
Readings |
* Aldrich, John H. 1995. Why Parties? The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. |