Course: Current issues of comparative politics

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Course title Current issues of comparative politics
Course code KPOL/N101
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminary
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 7
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Maškarinec Pavel, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction to the study, acquaintance with the literature and requirements for completing the course. 2. Theoretical traditions in comparative political science. 3. Comparative methods: qualitative and quantitative methods. 4. Formation of states: preconditions for the origin of democracy, theory of modernization. 5. Political regimes and their transformations. 6. Governance, state capacity. 7. Political institutions of modern states. 8. Political instability and political conflict. 9. Democratic competition: political mobilization, participation, representation. 10. Aggregation and representation of political interests. 11. Constitutional engineering and its importance, possibilities and limits. 12. Multilevel governance in the international environment.

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to deepen students' knowledge of the main methodological and theoretical basis of comparative political science with an emphasis on the latest trends in this dynamic subfield of political science. Using multidisciplinary approaches, attention is focused on key topics that form the core of contemporary comparative political science and whose knowledge will enable students to analyze and understand modern political and social processes in synchronous and diachronic perspective while choosing an adequate theoretical and conceptual framework, adequate operationalization of research and research technician. Thematically, the course will be structured into two units. The first (shorter) unit will deal with the theoretical traditions and methodological background of comparative political science (with a focus on the dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative approaches) and the possibilities of empirical verification of political science theories. The second (more comprehensive) unit will then present in detail selected key themes of comparative political science in an effort to capture the boundaries where the individual themes intersect or interact.
The student is able to use professional terminology. The student distinguishes individual theoretical approaches used in contemporary comparative political science. The student is able to characterize the specifics of quantitative and qualitative approaches in political science. The student is able to choose a suitable political science theory for solving research and practical problems. The student is familiar with the key topics of comparative political science.
Prerequisites
None

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
To successfully complete the course, it is required: 1) Pre-Exam Credit: active participation in seminars (at least 75%), to submit a seminar paper; 2) Exam: a written exam in the form of a test examines the student's ability to analyse and interpret selected issues of comparative political science on the basis of reading and studying professional literature.
Recommended literature
  • BOIX, C. a STOKES, S. C. The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-19-927848-0.
  • CABADA, L., CHARVÁT, J. a STULÍK, O. Současná komparativní politologie: klíčové koncepty.. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2015. ISBN 978-80-738-0577-7.
  • CARAMANI, D. Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017. ISBN 978-01-9873-742-1.
  • HLOUŠEK, V., KOPEČEK, L. a ŠEDO, J. Politické systémy. Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2018. ISBN 978-80-7485-150-6.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester