European multi-party systems have undergone drastic changes in the postindustrial age. Alongside major societal and economic transformations, we have witnessed significant evolutions of issue agendas, weakening historical alignment of socio-structural and socio-economic groups with traditional party families, the rise of new political challengers such as green and radical right parties, and the decline of many historically dominant mainstream parties. As a result, many of today’s party systems are more fragmented, volatile, and polarized than at any other point in the past 75 years.
This course offers a systematic overview of these concurrent and interrelated developments. Participants will learn about continuity and change in European party systems, the causes and consequences of evolving patterns of party competition, and the electoral opportunities and strategic challenges that parties face today. To this end, we will engage with theoretical, conceptual, and empirical contributions alike. Seeing as we will strongly engage with quantitative empirical research, statistical literacy and prior quantitative methods training at the level of Statistik I + II (or equivalent) is strongly recommended.
The language of instruction is English. Essays (Prüfungsleistung) may be submitted in either English or German. Studienleistungen: 1 Discussion Memo + Presentation Prüfungsleistung: 3 Discussion Essays (1,500 words/approx. 5 pages each)
Kurssprache: Englisch
- Lehrende/r: Denis Cohen