Module POL1020 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL1020: Politics in Europe
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
The module assesses how changing patterns of governance (specifically, the rise of the regulatory state, globalisation, and Europeanisation) are affecting traditional models of governance. These themes are explored through lectures and seminars. The course focuses on the political systems of the UK, France, Germany, Scandinavian countries and Eastern Europe. The module explains how the process of European integration has transformed political systems, political institutions and public policy, as well as the limitations of Europeanization.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 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; |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 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; |
Personal and Key Skills | 7. communicate effectively in oral and written work; 8. use IT for the retrieval and presentation of information; 9. engage with on-line interactive material and discussion. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
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 Scandinavian model meets Europe
The challenge of enlargement
How European integration affects governance in the member states (main hypotheses and mechanisms of Europeanization).
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
26.5 | 123.5 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 16.5 | 11 x 1.5 hour lectures |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 10 | 10 x 1 hour tutorials |
Guided Independent study | 66 | Coursework and independent study includes reading, note taking, and sketching answers to essay and seminar questions, presentation preparation and essay writing. This study is continuous throughout the course and should take at least six hours a week. |
Guided Independent study | 57.5 | Further independent study. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Discussions in Seminars | During Seminars | 1 -7 | Verbal |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
50 | 50 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-8 | Written comments |
Examination | 50 | 1 hour | 1-7 | Written comments |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
Examination | Examination (1 hour) | 1-7 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Bale, Tim (2008) European Politics: a Comparative Introduction - 2nd edition (Basingstoke: Palgave Macmillan).
Bache, I. and A. Jordan, eds, (2006) The Europeanization of British Politics, Palgrave.
Bache, I. S. George and S. Bulmer (2011) Politics in Europe.
Bulmer, S. and C. Lequesne (2013) The Member States of the European Union (New European Union Series).
Hancock, Donald (2012) Politics in Europe. Washington, DC : CQ Press.
LeDuc, Richard G. Niemi, and Pippa Norris. (2010) Comparing democracies 3 : elections and voting in the 21st century. Sage.
Strøm, Kaare,Müller, Wolfgang C. and Bergman, Torbjörn (2003) Delegation and Accountability in Parliamentary Democracies. Oxford University Press.