Undergraduate Course: Parties & Party Systems In Contemporary Democracies (PLIT10083)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Politics |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course is aimed at developing students understanding of one of the core topics of political science: the study of political parties and party systems. It will introduce students to the issues regarding the formation and evolution of political parties and party systems, party organisation and internal party democracy, and the crisis of trust in political parties.
This course will help students clarify the concepts and assumptions at the heart of the debates about democracy and political parties and understand the interplay between citizens, political parties and the state. The primary focus of the course will be Western Europe, although references will also be made to other democratic political systems.
Throughout the course, students will also be asked to follow the lead up to campaign for the 2011 Scottish election. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Politics/International Relations courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Critical understanding of the different explanations of party organisation, party system formation, and party and party system change;
Understanding of the functions and roles that political parties play in contemporary democracies;
Ability to compare contexts of party formation and party system formation;
Understanding of the challenges that parties face;
Ability to think comparatively;
Development of skills in oral and written communication and presentation through seminar activities, essay writing and feedback. |
Assessment Information
| Coursework 40%; exam 40%; tutorial participation & presentation 20% (TBC) |
Special Arrangements
Special Arrangements for Entry: A quota of 45 students, with preference given in the following order:
(1) Politics Single Honours 4th year;
(2) International Relations Single Honours 4th year;
(3) Politics Joint Honours 4th year;
(4) Politics Single Honours 3rd year;
(5) International Relations Single Honours 3rd year;
(6) Politics Joint Honours 3rd year;
(7) Other SSPS students;
(8) Non-SSPS students
Please note: because of the high numbers of students enrolled, this course will almost certainly not be able to admit students from outside the College of Humanities and Social Science.
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Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elodie Fabre
Tel: (0131 6)51 3997
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Susan Orr
Tel: (0131 6)50 4253
Email: |
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