COURSE UNIT TITLE

Offered By

Political Science and International Relations (English)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IBRAHIM SAYLAN

Offered to

Political Science and International Relations (English)

Course Objective

This course aims to examine political parties and electoral systems, which are among the major topics of political science. The emergence of political parties, their basic functions, party systems, party families shaped by political ideologies, party membership, voter support, the role of parties in policy-making processes and government will be discussed respectively. Then, based on the argument that political parties are in decline, the meaning and importance of political parties for contemporary political systems will be questioned. In the second part of the course, the institution of elections, which is indispensable for the establishment and legitimacy of political systems, and electoral systems, which refers to all kinds of regulations related to electoral processes, will be discussed. Majority and proportional representation electoral systems will be introduced in detail in the light of different applications, and then the relationship between electoral systems and party systems and their political consequences will be analyzed.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Recomended or Required Reading

Week 1: Course overview and introduction
Week 2: Definition of political party, and theories of party development
Pettitt, R.T. 2014. Contemporary Party Politics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.1-20, 43-59.
Week 3: Functions of political parties, and party systems
Pettitt, R.T. 2014. Contemporary Party Politics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.21-42.
Enyedi, Z. and Bertoa, F.C. 2023. Party Systems and Party Change , The Routledge Handbook of Political Parties. Ed.Carter, N. et al., London and New York: Routledge, pp.30-41.
Wisendahl, E. 2022. Political Party Research An Overview, Springer (E-Book), pp.57-72.
Week 4: Political ideologies and party families
Pettitt, R.T. 2014. Contemporary Party Politics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.60-83.
Dennison, J. and Hunger, S. 2023. Cleavage Politics in the 21st Century , The Routledge Handbook of Political Parties. Ed.Carter, N. et al., London and New York: Routledge, pp.115-124.
Week 5: Party membership and candidate selection
Pettitt, R.T. 2014. Contemporary Party Politics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.84-102, 103-123.
Scarrow, S. 2023. Party Membership , The Routledge Handbook of Political Parties. Ed.Carter, N. et al., London and New York: Routledge, pp.56-67.
Week 6: Issue competition, agenda-setting, and policy making
Pettitt, R.T. 2014. Contemporary Party Politics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.84-102, 103-123.
Green-Pedersen, C. 2023. Issue-Competition and Agenda-Setting , The Routledge Handbook of Political Parties. Ed.Carter, N. et al., London and New York: Routledge, pp.211-220.
Week 7: Parties in government and opposition, and the crisis of political parties
Pettitt, R.T. 2014. Contemporary Party Politics, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.84-102, 103-123.
Green, Z. and Alexiadou, D. 2023. Parties in Government and Coalition , The Routledge Handbook of Political Parties. Ed.Carter, N. et al., London and New York: Routledge, pp.232-242.
Week 8: Majoritarian and proportional electoral systems
Farrell, D.M. 1997. Comparing Electoral Systems, London: Macmillan, pp.1-11
Reynolds, A. et al. 2008. Electoral System Design The New International IDEA Handbook, Stockholm: IDEA Publication, pp.27-33.
Week 9: Consequences of electoral systems for political systems
Farrell, D.M. 1997. Comparing Electoral Systems, London: Macmillan, pp.142-168

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1.Lecture
2.Participation
3.Presentation
4.Exam
5.Term Paper

Assessment Methods

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1. The learner will explain the historical evolution, functions and the debates on the crisis of political parties in contemporary politics.
2. The learner will explain various aspects of political parties ranging from party systems and party families to party membership and policy making.
3 The learner will explain fundamental characteristics and political consequences of electoral systems.
4 The learner will show proficiency in presentation and writing skills by preparing and delivering elaborate presentations and term papers.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attending at least 70% of lectures is mandatory.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Participation in class and group work is necessary.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

ibrahim.saylan@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

TBA

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes