Fall/Winter Timetable

POL410H1S L0101

Graduate Course Code: POL2391H1S L0101

Topics in Comparative Politics III

Democracy and Responsiveness in Europe

Themes

This course examines the relationship between what the public wants and what policies get enacted in contemporary European democracies. We will explore the roles of political parties, interest groups, local and regional governments, and the European Union. When asking how policy responds to the public, we will also ask which parts of the public are most influential. Do the wealthy have more influence than the poor? Do the opinions of ethnic majorities have a greater impact than those of minorities? How do different institutional setups shape these relationships?

Texts

TBA

Format and Requirements

This course will include some lecture, but will primarily be conducted in a discussion format. Students will give regular presentations, write short response papers, and produce one long research paper on a topic of their choosing.

Prerequisites

2.0 credits in POL/ JPA/ JPF/ JPI/ JPR/ JPS/ JRA courses