MP204Zk Political Science

Faculty of Law
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Ing. Mgr. Jaroslav Benák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Pavel Kandalec, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Alžbeta Králová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. Mgr. Pavel Molek, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Jan Petrov, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
JUDr. Kateřina Šimáčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
JUDr. Ladislav Vyhnánek, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. PhDr. Robert Zbíral, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. PhDr. Robert Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Andrea Špačková, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science – Faculty of Law
Timetable
Mon 24. 2. to Fri 23. 5. Wed 16:00–17:40 140
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the foundations of social sciences taught at secondary schools.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Law (programme PrF, PR_) (2)
  • Law (programme PrF, M-PPV) (2)
Course objectives
The objective of the course is not only to introduce students to the broad results of knowledge that allow to understand the current state of the politics (what the political science found out), but also to explore the processes and ways of understanding that have allowed to gain that knowledge (how the political scientists proceeded). To support the strategy on an example, the ambition is not to burden you with facts such as "who is the current prime minister of Italy", but rather to force you to critically assess issues and events, discern credibility and persuasiveness of information. To put it differently, the course shall serve as an instrument to gain or extend general skills required to functioning of modern 21st century society.
Learning outcomes
familiarize students with main concepts of political science, explain context of political systems‘ functioning, identify pros and cons of models of society’s organization, understand basic principles of comparison and other research methods of political science“
Syllabus
Basic (General) Topics: 1) What is politics, and why and how should we engage with and study it? An introduction to the mysteries of political science 2) Political ideologies as a way to answer every question 3) Democracy (and its enemies) 4) Elections: still a celebration (not only) of democracy? 5) The movers of politics: political parties and interest groups 6) Where and how politics is played: governments, parliaments, bureaucracy 7) The Czech Republic as a land of stories: a brief guide to "our" politics + case studies reflecting the current political situation (see the interactive syllabus)
Literature
    recommended literature
  • LORENZ,A.,FORMÁNKOVÁ,H. Politický systém Česka.Brno : CDK,2019
  • PARSONS, Craig. Introduction to Political Science: How to Think for Yourself about Politics. London: Pearson, 2017.
  • NOVÁK, Miroslav; Lubomír BROKL; Petr DRULÁK; Pavol FRIČ; Martin GREGOR; Dušan HENDRYCH; Miroslav HROCH; Hynek JEŘÁBEK; Karel KOUBA; Oldřich KRULÍK; Michal KUBÁT; Jan KYSELA; Tomáš LEBEDA; Milan NAKONEČNÝ; Martin POTŮČEK; Petr SKALNÍK and Marek SKOVAJSA. Úvod do studia politiky. Druhé vydání, rozšířen. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON), 2019, 921 stran. ISBN 9788074192630. info
  • HLOUŠEK, Vít and Lubomír KOPEČEK. Politické strany. Původ, ideologie a transformace politických stran v západní a střední Evropě (Political Parties. Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties in Western and Central Europe). Praha: Grada, 2010, 320 pp. edice Politologie. ISBN 978-80-247-3192-6. URL info
  • HEYWOOD, Andrew. Politologie. Translated by Zdeněk Masopust. 3. vyd. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2008, 537 s. ISBN 9788073801151. info
  • SARTORI, Giovanni. Srovnávací ústavní inženýrství : zkoumání struktur, podnětů a výsledků. Translated by Jana Ogrocká. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2001, 238 s. ISBN 808585094X. info
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
The exam will take place physically at the faculty in the form of a written test, consisting of multiple-choice questions, simple fill-in-the-blank items, and brief reflective questions (e.g., "name three main advantages of decision-making through referendums"). The test will be written by hand on paper, without the use of any aids. The content of the exam will be based solely on the material covered in the lectures.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Additional study materials are available in the interactive syllabus in the Information system.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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