EVS186 EU Elections and Public Opinion

Fakulta sociálních studií
jaro 2016
Rozsah
1/1. 6 kr. Ukončení: zk.
Vyučující
Zuzana Ringlerová, Ph.D. (přednášející)
Garance
doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, Ph.D.
Katedra mezinárodních vztahů a evropských studií – Fakulta sociálních studií
Kontaktní osoba: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Dodavatelské pracoviště: Katedra mezinárodních vztahů a evropských studií – Fakulta sociálních studií
Rozvrh
Po 9:45–11:15 M117
Předpoklady
None
Omezení zápisu do předmětu
Předmět je určen pouze studentům mateřských oborů.

Předmět si smí zapsat nejvýše 20 stud.
Momentální stav registrace a zápisu: zapsáno: 0/20, pouze zareg.: 0/20
Mateřské obory/plány
předmět má 17 mateřských oborů, zobrazit
Cíle předmětu
By the end of the course, students will be able to do the following:
Explain why citizens participate in elections and why they vote they way they do.
Discuss the main facts about European Parliament elections and European referendums.
Describe how citizens participate in a political system.
Empirically analyze voters' behavior in European Parliament elections.
Deliver a short presentation of their seminar paper.
Osnova
  • Course description:
  • Political participation by citizens and representation of citizens' views by policy makers is at the heart of the notion of a democratic society. Are European Parliament elections about "Europe" at all or are they just about domestic politics? Why do so few citizens turn out in European Parliament elections? How do we explain why citizens vote in European Parliament elections the way they do? To what extent are citizens' views represented at European level of government? In this course we will seek answers to these and other questions about citizen participation and representation in the European Union. Throughout the course, students will have an opportunity to learn how to critically read academic literature. In addition, as a part of this course, students will write a short seminar paper and learn how to deliver a good presentation of their work.
  • Course outline:
  • 1) Citizens and democracy
  • 2) How do citizens participate? How are they represented in a political system?
  • 3) Elections and referendums in the EU
  • 4) Explaining voting behavior in European Parliament elections I. Sociological and psychological explanations.
  • 5) Explaining voting behavior in European Parliament elections II. Second-order national elections or elections about Europe?
  • 6) Taking one step further: If citizens' voting behavior is explained by their views of the EU, how do we explain citizens' views of the EU?
  • 7) No class. Easter Monday (national holiday).
  • 8) Midterm exam.
  • 9) Workshop: How to write the seminar paper.
  • 10) Media and elections.
  • 11) Quality of representation I. Do policy makers represent citizens' opinions?
  • 12) Quality of representation II. Democratic accountability and democratic deficit in the EU.
  • 13) Paper presentations.
Literatura
  • All required or recommended readings will be available online or in the library.
Výukové metody
In this course, you will be learning new knowledge and skills in multiple ways:
• you will practice critical reading skills and acquire factual knowledge during your preparation for class (through critical reading of the assigned material and preparing discussion questions)
• you will practice discussion skills and critical analysis skills in class discussions
• you will learn additional empirical knowledge and analytical skills in your seminar papers
• you will practice presentation skills in your class presentation
Metody hodnocení
The final grade has the following components
Participation 15%
Quizzes 10%
Seminar paper 35%
Midterm exam 20%
Final exam 20%
Vyučovací jazyk
Angličtina
Informace učitele
If you have any questions about this course, don't hesitate to contact the instructor at ringler@fss.muni.cz
Další komentáře
Předmět je dovoleno ukončit i mimo zkouškové období.
Předmět je vyučován jednorázově.
Předmět je zařazen také v obdobích jaro 2015, jaro 2017, jaro 2018.