PLSC 355
European Politics
Eastern Michigan University
Winter 2014
CRN: 27107
12:30-1:45 p.m., Tues. & Thurs., 419 Pray-Harrold
Professor Judith Kullberg
Office: 602-S Pray-Harrold
Office phone: (734) 487-1405
Department: (734) 487-3113
judith.kullberg@emich.edu
Office hours: Tues. & Th. 9-11 a.m. and by
appointment.
Course Description
Over the last two decades, the development and expansion of the European Union, the collapse
of communism, and the forces of globalization have profoundly transformed the politics of
Europe. This transformation has included the blurring of distinctions between West and East, the
spread of democracy and capitalism from the Atlantic to the Urals, and the increasing integration
of European states, politically, economically, and militarily.
This course will explore the causes and effects of these changes through a comparative study of
the politics of the member states of the EU, including the established democracies of Western
and Southern Europe and the new post-communist democracies of Central and Eastern Europe.
Particular attention will be devoted to the development and performance of the European model
of representative democracy, variations in the European model, the patterns of social cleavage
and resulting party systems in various European nations, the development of the welfare state,
and the policy process. We will also examine the process and dimensions of European
unification and survey the development and performance of the institutions of the European
Union.
Throughout the semester, we will compare the politics of Europe and the United States. This
comparison will allow us to explore the determinants and dimensions of “American
exceptionalism” and to conceptualize the politics of the United States relative to that of other
advanced democracies. The comparison will extend to a consideration of the causes and
possible solutions to issues and problems that are common to advanced democracies, including
the global recession, growing economic inequality, the influence of organized interests
(especially multinational corporations) in the policy process, economic integration, declining
popular satisfaction with representative democracy, immigration, and the threat of transnational
terrorism.
Course Objectives
The primary goal of the course is that each student will develop a good understanding of the
institutions and political processes of European nations and the European Union. By learning
about European politics, you will deepen your knowledge of representative democracy as well as
of the various forms of democracy. By the end of the semester, you will be able to compare and
contrast the politics of major European states and to compare European models of representative
democracy to the U.S. model. This foundational knowledge will allow you to analyze and
interpret current political events in Europe as well as to think critically about major global issues
and to develop your own perspectives on the politics of the contemporary world.
Expectations and Evaluation
To do well in this course, you should attend class regularly, complete readings before the class
for which they are assigned, and participate in class discussions. You will also prepare for and
participate in simulations of the Council of the European Union. Preparation for the simulations
will include writing two short research papers. To assess your mastery of course material and
concepts, you will take two exams.
Attendance & Participation
Since lectures and discussion will help you to master course concepts, regular attendance
and participation is important. You can earn up to 200 points (approximately 7 points per
class) for attending regularly and contributing to class discussion. The level of
preparation for a class may occasionally be assessed through quizzes and other in-class
activities.
EU Simulation & Briefing Papers
At the beginning of the semester, you will be assigned one of the EU member states.
From that point on, you will be the primary resource person in the class for that country
which means that you will be responsible for conducting research on your country and
explaining your country’s politics and policies. You will also represent your state in two
in-class simulations of the European Union, one of the Council of the European Union,
the primary policy-making body of the EU, and the second of the European Council,
which is the high-level summit of heads of state held annually. The first simulation will
be held from March 20-27 and the second during the final exam period on April 22.
To prepare for the simulations, you will write two short (5-7 pages, double-spaced)
papers. The first will be a profile of your country’s politics and political economy. The
second paper will be an overview of your country’s positions on critical issues facing all
of Europe. The country profile paper will be due January 30 and the position paper will
be due March 13 (before the first simulation). Both of these papers will be shared with
all members of the class on the course eCollege site. Each paper will be worth 100
points.
The simulations will involve consideration of critical problems currently facing the EU
and the adoption of resolutions to deal with those problems. The total number of points
for participation in the simulations will be 200.
Exams
The two exams will be composed of identification, short answer, and essay questions.
The first, or midterm exam, will be given February 20 and will be worth 150 points. The
second exam will be held April 17 and will also be worth 150 points. I will distribute a
study guide one week before each exam.
Course Grade
Final course grades will be calculated according to the following formula: attendance and
participation, 20% (200 points); country briefing paper 12.5% (125 points); position paper 12.5%
(125 points); midterm exam, 15% (150 points) ; simulations, 20% (200 points); final exam, 20%
(200 points). The attendance and participation component of the final grade may also include
occasional unannounced ("pop") quizzes and in-class activities.
The total number of points that you can earn in the course is 1000. Final grades will be
determined according to how many points you have accumulated over the semester, using the
scale below
930-1000 A
900-929 A870-899 B+
830-869 B
800-829 B770-799 C+
730-769 C
700-729 C670-699 D+
630-669 D
600-629 D
< 600 E
Texts and Readings
The following texts are required and can be purchased at campus area bookstores or online:
Markus Crepaz and Jurg Steiner. 2013. European Democracies (Pearson Press). Eighth
edition. ISBN: 978-0-205-85478-3.
John McCormick. 20133. European Union Politics (Palgrave Macmillan). Fifth edition.
ISBN: 978-0-230-57707-7 (Note: Instead of the McCormick text, you may choose to
purchase Simon Hix and Bjorn Hoyland, The Political System of the European Union
(Palgrave Macmillan) ISBN: 978-0-230-24982-0)
In addition, you may wish to purchase Steven Hill, Europe’s Promise: Why the European Way is
the Best Hope in an Insecure World (University of California Press, 2010). ISBN 978-0-52026137-2. Hill considers the evidence of the performance of European institutions and argues that
European models should be borrowed by other nations.
All other readings, required and recommended, will be available on the course eCollege site
(www.emuonline.edu). The readings listed as "recommended" include some of the major
scholarly works on European politics. These will provide you with more extended treatment of
specific topics.
Follow Current Events
In addition to completing assigned readings, it is essential that you follow European current
events. Recommended news sources include: the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk), The Economist
magazine, web news sites such as www.wn.com , www.euractiv.com, www.opendemocracy.net
and the website of the European Union, www.europa.eu . The New York Times and The
Washington Post are also good sources of European news. A more extended list of new sources
in the major European languages will be posted in the course webliography.
Late Assignments and Makeup Exams
Late assignments will not be accepted, except in cases of documented illness or family
emergency. If illness or emergency occurs, you should contact me immediately before the due
date and negotiate a new due date. Similarly, if you cannot take an exam at the scheduled time
due to illness or emergency, you should contact me prior to the exam to reschedule. When
requesting an extension or makeup exam on grounds of illness or emergency, you must provide
supporting evidence. Makeup exams will be in all-essay format.
Academic Dishonesty and the Student Code of Conduct
Plagiarism, which is the unacknowledged use of words written by another person as one's own,
is forbidden by the EMU Code of Student Conduct
(http://www.emich.edu/policies/policy.php?id=124&term=student%20conduct). Any assignment
that is plagiarized, even in part, will receive a score of zero. Similarly, cheating during an exam
period will result in automatic failure on the exam. Incidents of academic dishonesty may also be
reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Schedule of Lectures and Readings
Introduction: European Democracies in Comparative Perspective
January 9
Crepaz and Steiner, European Democracies, Ch. 1 “Becoming Modern in Europe and
America: Different History, Different Politics,” pp. 1-16.
John McCormick, “The Idea of Europe” in Understanding the European Union (New
York: Palgrave, 2011), pp. 24-47.
Recommended
Louis Hartz, The Liberal Tradition in America: An Interpretation of American Political
Thought Since the Revolution
Seymour Martin Lipset and Gary Marks. It Didn’t Happen Here: Why Socialism Failed in
the United States (New York: W. W. Norton, 2000)
The Rise of the European Union
January 14
“The Evolution of the EU,” in Understanding the European Union, pp. 48-73. (available
in doc sharing)
January 16
Crepaz & Steiner, “The European Union,” Ch. 14
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 2, “What is the European Union?” and Ch. 8
“The Treaties” (or Hix and Hoyland, “Explaining the EU Political System,” Ch. 1)
Recommended
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 4-7.
Hill, Europe’s Promise, Ch. 1
Richardson, Jeremy, ed. European Union: Power and Policy-Making (London: Routledge,
1996), pp. 3-23.
Rosamond, Ben, Theories of European Integration (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000).
Political Parties, Past and Present
January 21
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 2, “Political Parties,” pp. 17-63.
January 23
McCormick, Ch. 15, “Parties and Interest Groups,” pp. 255-264 (or Hix and Hoyland,
Ch. 6, “Democracy, Parties and Elections,” pp. 130-146)
Recommended
Seymour M. Lipset and Stein Rokkan, “Cleavage Structures, Party Systems, and Voter
Alignments: An Introduction,” in Party Systems and Voter Alignments: Cross
National Comparisons (New York: The Free Press, 1967).
Hill, The Promise of Europe, Ch. 13-14.
Sheri Berman, The Primacy of Politics: Social Democracy and the Making of Europe’s
Twentieth Century (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006).
Electoral Systems and Elections
January 28
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 3, “The Most Specific Manipulative Instrument of Politics”:
Electoral Systems and How Votes are Turned into Seats”
January 30
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 16, “Elections and Referendums” (or Hix and
Hoyland, Ch. 6, “Democracy, Parties, and Elections,” pp. 146-158)
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 6, “Referenda”
Recommended
Lijphart, Arend, Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-Seven
Democracies, 1945-1990 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994), pp. 10-56.
Przeworski, Adam and John Sprague, Paper Stones: A History of Electoral Socialism
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986)
Parliamentary Government
February 4
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 4, “From Legislative to Executive Authority: Cabinet Formation
and Heads of State”
Recommended
Arend Lijphart, Democracies (New Haven: Yale University Press,1984).
Executive Power in the EU
February 6
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 10-11 (or Hix and Hoyland, Ch. 2, “Executive
Politics”)
Recommended
Antonis Elinas and Ezra Suleiman, The European Commission and Bureaucratic
Autonomy: Europe’s Custodians (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012).
[Full text available online through Halle Library search engine].
The EU Parliament
February 11
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 12, “The European Parliament” (or Hix and
Hoyland, Ch. 3, “Legislative Politics”)
Judicial Politics
February 13
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 5, “Courts”
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 13 (or Hix and Hoyland, Ch. 4, “Judicial
Politics”)
Social and Protest Movements
February 18
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 8, “Social Movements”
Donatella Dell Porta, “Social Movements and the European Union: Eurosceptics or
Critical Europeanists?,” Notre Europe Policy Paper No. 22 (2006).
Recommended
Doug Immig and Sidney Tarrow, Contentious Europeans (Rowman and Littlefield, 2001).
***Midterm Examination***
February 20
****Winter Break****
February 24-March 2
Public Opinion in Europe
March 4
Pascal Chelala, “A Europe of Values: From Shared History to Common Objectives,” in
Carballa and Hjelmar eds. Public Opinion Polling in a Globalized World (Springer
2009).
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 17, “Public Opinion” (or Hix and Hoyland, Ch.
5)
Recommended
Dalton, Russell, Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced
Industrial Democracies (Washington, D. C.: CQ Press, 2013).
States, the EU, and Interest Representation
March 6
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 9, “The State, Corporatism, the Great Meltdown of 2008, and the
Greek Debt Crisis of 2011”
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 15, pp. 264-269 and Ch. 18, “Public Policy” (or
Hix and Hoyland, Ch. 7, “Interest Representation”)
Recommended
Vivien Schmidt, “Democracy and Legitimacy in the European Union Revisited: Input,
Output, and Throughput,” KFG Working Paper No. 21, Freie Universitat Berlin,
November 2010.
Policy and the Welfare State
March 11
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 10, “Policy Outcomes”
Recommended
Hill, Europe’s Promise, Ch. 2-6
Gosta Esping-Anderson, The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism (Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1990).
Susan Giaimo and Philip Manow, "Adapting the Welfare State: The Case of Health Care
Reform in Britain, Germany, and the United States," Comparative Political Studies
32:8 (1999), 967-1000.
European Political Economy
March 13
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 19 (or Hix and Hoyland, Ch. 8 “Regulation of
the Single Market”)
March 18
McCormick, European Union Politics Ch. 20 & 21 (Hix and Hoyland, Ch. 10, “Economic
and Monetary Union” and Chap. 9, “Expenditure Policies)
Recommended
Hill, Europe’s Promise, Ch. 9 & 10
Hall, Peter. A., Governing the Economy: the Politics of State Intervention in Britain and
France (Cambridge: Polity Press, 1986).
Barry Eichengren, The European Economy Since 1945: Coordinated Capitalism and
Beyond (Princeton University Press, 2007).
***Simulation: The Council of the European Union***
March 20-27
East Central Europe: The Evolution of Postcommunist Democracy
April 1
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 11, “The Legacy of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe”
John Higley, Judith Kullberg, and Jan Pakulski, “The Persistence of Postcommunist
Elites,” in Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner, ed. Democracy After Communism
(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 2002), pp. 31-47.
Nationalism, Ethnicity & Immigration
April 3
Crepaz & Steiner, Ch. 12, “Nationalism and Ethnicity,” & Ch. 13, “Power Sharing in
Deeply Divided Societies”
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 23 “Justice and Home Affairs” (or Hix and
Hoyland, Ch. 11, “Interior Policies”).
Recommended
Patrick Ireland, Becoming Europe: Immigration, Integration, and the Welfare State
(Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2004)
Marc Howard, The Politics of Citizenship in Europe (New York: Cambridge University
Press, 2009)
Foreign Policy and International Relations
April 8
McCormick, European Union Politics, Ch. 24 & 25 (or “Hoyland and Hix, Ch. 12
“Foreign Policies”)
Nicole Koenig, “The EU and the Libyan Crisis: In Quest of Coherence,” IAI Working
Papers 1119 (July 2011).
Recommended
Hill, The Promise of Europe, Ch. 11-12.
Chris Patten, Cousins and Strangers: America, Britain and Europe in a New Century (New
York: Times Books, 2006).
The Future of Europe
April 10
Crepaz and Steiner, Ch. 15, “Gobalization and European Democracies”
McCormick, European Union Politics, “Conclusion,” pp. 442-45 (or Hoyland and Hix,
Ch. 13, “Rethinking the European Union”)
April 15
Film TBA
Recommended
Hill, The Promise of Europe, Ch. 16-18 and Conclusion
***Second Exam***
April 17
Simulation: The European Council
April 22, 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.