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Study information

Politics in Europe

Module titlePolitics in Europe
Module codePOL1020
Academic year2025/6
Credits15
Module staff

Professor Alison Harcourt (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

350

Module description

The module focuses on the comparative analysis of political systems in Europe. The theoretical foundations of the module lie in the combination of comparative politics, political behaviour and Europeanisation integration theory. The module examines the role of political parties, legislatures, executives, interest representation, and media systems. It assesses how the rise of globalisation and Europeanisation are affecting traditional models of governance. The module focuses on the political systems of representative democracies in European states and the commonalities of Nordic states, the states of Central and Eastern Europe and Southern Europe respectively.
 
This is fundamental for students wishing to specialise in comparative or European politics. There are no prior modules required to take this module. It is suitable for any student in social science or humanities from the first year.
 

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module assesses the role of governments and parliaments, political party and electoral systems, media systems and interest group representation. It focuses on the political systems of the UK, France, Germany, Nordic states, Southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe as representative democracies. The module explains how the process of European integration has transformed political systems, political institutions and public policy, as well as the limitations of Europeanisation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. understand the nature and evolution of core concepts regarding comparative politics, classification and typology of democratic systems (parliamentary, presidential, direct democracies);
  • 2. identify how changing patterns of governance (specifically, the rise of the regulatory state, globalisation, and Europeanisation) are affecting traditional models of governance;
  • 3. analyse the role of political parties, interest groups, legislatures, executives, judiciaries, and the media.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 4. critically analyse primary and secondary political source material;
  • 5. construct and present rigorous oral and written argument;
  • 6. understand key political theories and models;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 7. communicate effectively in oral and written work;
  • 8. use IT for the retrieval and presentation of information;

Syllabus plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

  • Comparative government and governance in Europe: theoretical and methodological foundations.
  • Varieties of political systems in Europe: governments and parliaments
  • Representative democracies: political parties and elections
  • The role of the media
  • Participation and interest groups
  • The UK
  • Germany
  • France
  • Southern Europe
  • The Nordic model meets Europe
  • The challenge of enlargement
  • How European integration affects governance in the member states (main hypotheses and mechanisms of Europeanization).

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
21.5128.50

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 16.511 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 55 x 1 hour tutorials
Guided Independent study68Coursework and independent study includes reading, note taking, and sketching answers to essay and seminar questions and essay writing. This study is continuous throughout the course and should take at least six hours a week
Guided Independent study60.5Further independent study.

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Choice of essay outlines150 words1 -7Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay471,600 words1-8Written comments
Essay471,600 words1-8Written comments
Attendance611 lectures / 5 tutorials1-8Oral

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
EssayEssay (1,600 words)1-8August/September reassessment period
EssayEssay (1,600 words)1-8August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Bale, Tim (2017) European Politics: a Comparative Introduction 4th edition. Basingstoke: Palgave Macmillan.

Cini, Michelle and Nieves Perez-Solorzano Borragan (2025) European Union Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

DeVries, Catherine E. Sara Hobolt, Sven-Oliver Proksch and Jonathan Slapin (2021) Foundations of European Politics: A Comparative Approach. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Hancock, Donald (2024) Politics in Europe. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Poguntke, Thomas and Wilhelm Hofmeister (2024) Political Parties and the Crisis of Democracy, Organization, Resilience and Reform. Oxford University Press.

Strøm, Kaare, Müller, Wolfgang C. and Bergman, Torbjörn (2006) Delegation and Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies . Oxford University Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – ele.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

Politics Europe

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/10/2011

Last revision date

14/04/2025