GV 101 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL
SCIENCE 2004-05.
Teacher responsible: Dr. Bill Kissane and others.
Course description: This course provides an introduction to the study of
politics through (a) an analysis of one states’s institutons, those of the
United Kingdom, and (b), a comparative analysis of political
institutions generally. There will be nine lectures on each of these
areas plus an introductory and revision lecture. The exam will consist
of a three hour written exam in which students will have to answer
three questions with at least one taken from each section. A student
who has attended the lectures should be able to ‘parse’ different
kinds of democratic system. The purpose of the lectures is to explain
what various institutional categories actually mean, bringing in
examples and (where appropriate) the classic literature.
Lecturers on this course:
Dr. Sumantra Bose, Reader in Comparative Politics.
Dr. Jonathan Hopkin, Lecturer in Comparative Politics.
Dr. James Hughes, Reader in Comparative and Russian Politics.
Dr. Bill Kissane., Lecturer in Political Science.
Dr. Valentino Larcinese., Lecturer in Political Science.
Professor Dominic Lieven., Professor in Imperial and Russian
government.
Dr. Francisco Panizza., Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics.
Format: Alongside the lectures there will be smaller classes held on the
same topics as each weeks lectures. Students will be assigned these
classes at the beginning of the Michaelmas term. Students will have
to write four unassessed essays as part of this course.
Readings: There is no single textbook. On British politics students may
find T. Wright, The British Political Process, and B. Coxall et al.,
Contemporary British Politics helpful. On institutions generally, students
may find A. Lijphart A. Lijphart, Patterns of Democracy: Government
Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries (1999) useful. These are
introductory readings and always need to be supplemented with other
sources from the reading list.
1: Introduction to the course.
First Part
2: The Westminster Model: Monarchy, Government and Parliament
3: Majoritarian Politics In Britain: The Electoral and Party Systems
4: Voting Behaviour In Britain: From Class Voting to Consumer
Choice
5: Political Parties in Britain: Ideology and Organization
6: Constitutional Change: Devolution in Scotland, Wales And
Northern Ireland
7: Bureaucracy and Administration: Central and Local Government
8: Governing the British Economy
9: Governing British Society: Public Services and the Welfare State
10: The Europeanization of British Politics
LECTURE 2: THE WESTMINSTER MODEL:
MONARCHY, GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT
What is the ‘Westminster model’? Does it concentrate too much
power in too few places?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of single party majority
governments in Britain?
Core reading
A. Lijphart, Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in
Thirty-Six Countries (1999), Chapters 2-3.
F. Ridley, ‘There is No British Constitution: A Dangerous Case of the
Emperor’s Clothes’, Parliamentary Affairs 41 (1988).
D. Judge, The Parliamentary State (1993).
Additional reading
H. Barnett, Britain Unwrapped. Government and Constitution Explained
(2002), chapters 1-3.
G. Wilson, ‘The Westminster Model in Comparative Perspective’, in
I. Budge and D. McKay (eds), The Developing British Political System
(1994).
M. Smith, The Core Executive in Britain (1999), Chapter 2.
M. Smith, ‘The Core Executive and the Modernization of Central
Government’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R. Heffernan and G. Peele
(eds), Developments in British Politics 7 (2003).
M. Foley, The British Presidency (2000).
A. Gamble, ‘Theories of British Government’, Political Studies 38 (1990):
404-20.
A. Gamble, ‘Remaking the Constitution’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble,
R. Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7
(2003).
B. Coxall et al, Contemporary British Politics (2003), Chs.11-15.
LECTURE 3: MAJORITARIAN POLITICS IN BRITAIN:
THE ELECTORAL AND PARTY SYSTEMS
Does the United Kingdom have a two-party system?
Does the introduction of new electoral process at the devolved level
undermine the Westminster model of party democracy?
Core reading
P. Mair (ed), The West European Party System, Chapters 20 & 24.
J.Curtice, ‘Changing Voting Systems’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R.
Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7 (2003).
R. Heffernan, ‘Political Parties and the Party System’, in P. Dunleavy,
A. Gamble, R. Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British
Politics 7 (2003).
Additional reading
H. Barnett, Britain Unwrapped. Government and Constitution Explained
(2002), chapter 6.
I. Budge et al, The New British Politics (1998), Chapters 17-18.
R. Garner and R. Kelly, British Political Parties Today, 2nd Ed. (1998),
Chapter 2.
P. Webb, The Modern British Party System (2000).
P. Webb, ‘Political Parties in Britain’, in P. Webb et al, Political Parties
in Advanced Industrial Democracies (2002).
P. Webb and J. Fisher, ‘The Changing British Party System’ in D.
Broughton and M. Donovan (eds.), Changing Party Systems in Western
Europe (1999).
W. Jones, ‘Reforming the Electoral System’, in Jones, W. (ed.).
Political Issues in Britain Today (1999).
LECTURE 4: VOTING BEHAVIOUR IN BRITAIN: FROM
CLASS VOTING TO CONSUMER CHOICE
Does social class still matter in British electoral politics?
Have British voters become ‘consumers’ of politics?
Core reading
P. Mair (ed), The West European Party System (1990), Chapter 5.
P. Webb, The Modern British Party System (2000), Chapters 1 and 2.
D. Denver, Elections and Voting Behaviour in Britain (2003), Chapters 3,
4, 5.
P. Dunleavy, ‘Elections and Party Politics’, in P. Dunleavy, A.
Gamble, R. Heffernan, I. Holliday and G. Peele (eds), Developments in
British Politics 6, pp. 127-50.
Additional reading
Alford, R., ‘Class voting in the Anglo-American political systems’, in
S.M. Lipset and S. Rokkan (eds.), Party systems and voter alignments (1967),
pp.67-94.
D. Sanders, ‘Electoral Competition in Contemporary Britain’, in C.
Hay (ed), British Politics Today (2002).
D. Sanders et al., ‘The Economy and Voting’, in P. Norris (ed.),
Britain Votes 2001. (This article can also be found in Parliamentary
Affairs 54 (2001).
B. Coxall, L. Robins and R. Leach, Contemporary British Politics, 4th Ed.
(2003), Chapter 7.
M. Maor, Political Parties and Party Systems (1997), chapter 7.
I. Crewe & K. Thomson, ‘Party Loyalties: Dealignment or
Realignment?’, in Evans & Norris, Critical Elections. British Parties and
Voters in Long-Term Perspective, (1999) Ch.4.
S. Saggar & A. Heath, ‘Race: Towards a Multicultural Electorate?’, in
Evans & Norris, Critical Elections. British Parties and Voters in Long-Term
Perspective, (1999) Ch.6.
P. Norris, ‘Gender: A Gender-Generation Gap?’, in Evans & Norris,
Critical Elections. British Parties and Voters in Long-Term Perspective, (1999)
Ch.8.
LECTURE 5: POLITICAL PARTIES IN BRITAIN:
IDEOLOGY AND ORGANIZATION
Are British political parties still capable of fulfilling their traditional
function in the political system?
Is British party competition still driven by ideology?
Are British parties ‘cartel’ parties?
Core reading
R. Katz. & P. Mair, ‘Changing Models of Party Organisation and
Party Democracy: The Emergence of the Cartel Party’, Party Politics 1:
5-28 (1995) (also in P. Mair, Party System Change, 1998).
P. Kelly, ‘Ideas and Policy Agendas in Contemporary Politics’, in P.
Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R. Heffernan, I. Holliday and G. Peele (eds),
Developments in British Politics 6, pp. 127-50.
M. Maor, Political Parties and Party Systems (1997), Chapter 3.
P. Webb, ‘Are British Political Parties in Decline?’, Party Politics 1:
299-322 (1995).
Additional reading
I. Budge et al, The New British Politics (1998), Chapter 16.
A. Chadwick and R. Heffernan (eds), The New Labour Reader (2003),
Chapters 1 & 2.
Fisher, J. (1996). British Political Parties. New York: Prentice Hall,
Chs.1-7.
Garner, R. & Kelly, R. (1998). British Political Parties Today. Manchester:
Manchester University Press, 2nd Ed, Ch.3-6.
R. Heffernan, ‘Political Parties and the Party System’, in P. Dunleavy,
A. Gamble, R. Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British
Politics 7 (2003).
A. Giddens, The Third Way (1998).
A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (1994).
P. Webb, ‘Political Parties in Britain’, in P. Webb et al, Political Parties
in Advanced Industrial Democracies (2002).
LECTURE 6: CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE:
DEVOLUTION IN SCOTLAND, WALES AND
NORTHERN IRELAND
What is the ‘West Lothian question’ and how serious is it?
Do Northern Ireland’s consociational institutions negate democracy
in order to keep the peace?
Core reading
A. Lijphart, Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in
Thirty-Six Countries (1999), Chapter 3.
D. Ashford, ‘British Dogmatism and French Pragmatism Revisited’,
in C. Crouch and D. Marquand (eds), The New Centralism (1989).
V. Bogdanor, ‘Asymmetric Devolution: Toward a Quasi-Federal
Constitution?’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R. Heffernan and G.
Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7 (2003).
B. O’Leary, ‘The Nature of the British-Irish Agreement’, New Left
Review 233 (1999): pp. 66-96.
Additional reading.
H. Barnett, Britain Unwrapped. Government and Constitution Explained
(2002), chapter 5.
Holliday, I. ‘Territorial Politics’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, I.
Holliday and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 5 (2000).
V. Bogdanor, Devolution in the United Kingdom (2001).
V. Bogdanor, ‘Devolution: Decentralisation or Disintegration?’,
Political Quarterly 70, 2 (1999): pp. 185-94.
B. Coxall, L. Robins and R. Leach, Contemporary British Politics, 4th Ed.
(2003), Chapter 17.
R. Hazell (ed.), Constitutional Futures: A History of the Next Ten Years
(1999), Chapter 3.
R. Hazell (ed.), The State and the Nations (2003).
J. Tonge, ‘Politics in Northern Ireland’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble,
R. Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7
(2003).
LECTURE 7: BUREAUCRACY AND ADMINISTRATION:
CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN
Are executive mayors likely to revive local democracy?
Why does the government want to introduce English regional
assemblies?
Core reading
J. Jowell and D. Oliver (eds), The Changing Constitution, 4th Ed.
(2000), Chapter 6.
G. Stoker, The New Politics of British Local Government (2000),
Introduction and Chapter 4.
T. Travers, ‘Local Government’, in A. Seldon (ed.), The Blair Effect
(2001).
P. John, ‘Local Governance’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, I. Holliday
and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 5 (2000).
Additional reading
H. Barnett, Britain Unwrapped. Government and Constitution Explained
(2002), chapter 5.
G. Peele, ‘Politics in England and Wales’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble,
R. Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7
(2003).
D. Hill, Urban Policy and Politics in Britain (2000), Chapter 7.
L. Jenkins, ‘Local Government’, in K. Sutherland (ed.), The Rape of the
Constitution? (2000).
N. Rao, Reviving Local Democracy: New Labour, New Politics? (2000).
J. Stewart, The Nature of British Local Government (2000), Chapters 5-6.
B. Coxall, L. Robins and R. Leach, Contemporary British Politics, 4th Ed.
(2003), Chapter 18.
B. Pimlott and N. Rao, Governing London (2002).
D. Wilson and C. Game, Local Government in the United Kingdom (2002)
LECTURE 8: GOVERNING THE BRITISH ECONOMY
Can the British government ‘govern’ the British economy?
Is New Labour’s economic policy any different to that of its
Conservative predecessors?
Core reading
A. Glyn and S. Wood, ‘New Labour’s Economic Policy’, in A. Glyn
(ed.), Social Democracy in Neoliberal Times (2001).
A. Gamble and G. Kelly, ‘Labour’s New Economics’, in S. Ludlam
and M. Smith (eds), New Labour in Government (2001).
W. Grant, ‘Economic Policy’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R.
Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7 (2003).
Additional reading
C. Annesley and A. Gamble, ‘Economic and Welfare Policy’, in S.
Ludlam and M. Smith (eds), Governing as New Labour (2004).
P. Burnham, ‘New Labour and the Politics of Depoliticization’,
British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2: 127-49 (2001).
W. Grant. Economic Policy in Britain (2002).
E. Balls and G. O’Donnell (eds), Reforming Britain’s Economic and
Financial Policy (2002).
R. Middleton, The British Economy since 1945 (2000).
A. Giddens, The Third Way (1998), chapters 1-2.
C. Hay, The Political Economy of New Labour. Labouring Under False
Pretences (1999).
D. King and S. Wood, ‘The Political Economy of Neoliberalism:
Britain and the United States in the 1980s’, in H. Kitschelt et al,
Continuity and Change in Contemporary Captialism (1999).
LECTURE 9: GOVERNING BRITISH SOCIETY: PUBLIC
SERVICES AND THE WELFARE STATE
Is the UK welfare state another case of British exceptionalism?
Is New Labour reviving or burying the UK welfare state?
Core reading
A. Denham, ‘Public Services’, in P. Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R.
Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments in British Politics 7 (2003).
R. Prabhakar, ‘New Labour and the Reform of Public Services’, in S.
Ludlam and M. Smith (eds), Governing as New Labour (2004).
M. Rhodes, ‘Desperately Seeking a Solution: Social Democracy,
Thatcherism and the “Third Way” in British Welfare’, in M. Ferrera
and M. Rhodes (eds), Recasting European Welfare States (2000)
Additional reading
A. Giddens, The Third Way (1998), chapters 3-4.
H. Glennerster, British Social Policy Since 1945 (2000).
S. Jenkins, ‘Recent Trends in the UK Income Distribution: What
Happened and Why?’, Oxford Review of Economic Policy 12 (1996),
pp.29-46.
M. Jones and R. Lowe, From Beveridge to Blair (2002).
P. Pierson, Dismantling the Welfare State? Reagan, Thatcher and the Politics
of Retrenchment (1994).
M. Rhodes, ‘Restructuring the British Welfare State: Between
Domestic Constraints and Global Imperatives’, in F. Scharpf and V.
Schmidt (eds), Welfare and Work in the Open Economy. Vol II (2000).
P. Toynbee and P. Walker, Did Things Get Better? An Audit of Labour’s
Successes and Failures (2001).
P. Wilding, ‘The Welfare State and the Conservatives’, Political Studies
(1997), pp.716-26.
LECTURE 10: THE EUROPEANIZATION OF BRITISH
POLITICS
How are member states’ interests represented in the EU?
Why has ‘the loss of sovereignty’ inherent in European integration
presented more of a problem to the UK than to most other EU
member states?
Core reading
B. Coxall, L. Robins and R. Leach, Contemporary British Politics, 4th Ed.
(2003), Chapter 16.
S. George, An Awkward Partner: Britain in the European Community (1998),
Chapters 1, 7-9.
J. Jowell and D. Oliver (eds), The Changing Constitution, 4th Ed. (2000),
Chapter 3.
Additional reading:
S. Hix, The Political System of the European Union (1999), Chapters 1 and
4.
J. McCormick, Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction
(2003), Chapter 4.
H. Barnett, Britain Unwrapped. Government and Constitution Explained
(2002), chapter 4.
D. Baker and D. Seawright (eds), Britain For and Against Europe: British
Politics and the Question of European Integration (1998).
B. Rosamond, ‘Britain’s European Future’ in C. Hay (ed), British
Politics Today (2002).
B. Rosamon, ‘The Europeanization of British Politics’, in P.
Dunleavy, A. Gamble, R. Heffernan and G. Peele (eds), Developments
in British Politics 7 (2003).
W. Wallace, ‘The Sharing of Sovereignty: The European Paradox’,
Political Studies 47 (1999).
J. Pedersen, ‘Sovereignty and Independence’, in I. Holliday, A.
Gamble and G. Parry (eds), Fundamentals in British Politics (1999).
Evans, G., ‘Europe: A New Electoral Cleavage?’, in Evans & Norris,
Critical Elections. British Parties and Voters in Long-Term Perspective, Ch.11.
LECTURE 11: WHAT ARE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.
What are political institutions?
How do institutions influence policy decisions?
Core reading.
J. Knight (1992) Institutions and social conflict Cambridge; New York,
CUP pp.1-20.
J. G. March and Johan P. Olsen, (1989) Rediscovering institutions: the
organizational basis of politics New York, Free Press (JC249M31) pp.1-19
and 159-72.
K. Thelen and S. Steinmo (1992) ‘Historical institutionalism in
comparative politics’ in S. Steinmo, K. Thelen and F. Longstreth
(eds) Structuring politics: historical institutionalism in comparative analysis
Cambridge; New York, CUP, pp.1-32
F. Zakaria (1997) ‘The Rise of Illiberal Democracy’ Foreign Affairs
November/December
Additional readings
D. Marsh and G. Stoker (1995) Theory and methods in political science
Basingstoke, Macmillan (chapter on institutions)
B. G. Peters (1999) Institutional Theory in Political Science: The “New
Institutionalism” London, New York, Pinter (pp. 1-24)
Peter Hall (1986) Governing the Economy: The Politics of State Intervention
in Britain and France Cambridge, Polity Press pp.3-22.
D. C. North (1990) Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic
Performance. Cambridge; New York, CUP pp. 3-10.
Weaver and B. A. Rockman (1993) ‘Assessing the Effects of
Institutions’ in Weaver, R. Kent and B. A. Rockham, Do Institutions
Matter? Government capabilities in the United States and Abroad
Washington D.C., The Brookings Institution, 1-41.
LECTURE 12: THE STATE AND DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNANCE..
Rival definitions and understanding of the nature of the state
The role of the state in processes of democratisation and economic
development
Key Readings.
Evans, P. (1997) ‘The eclipse of the state? Reflections on stateness in
an era of globalization’ World Politics 50:1 (October) pp. 62-87
Almond, Gabriel (1988) ‘The Return of the State.’ American Political
Science Review 82 (3), also in Almond, Gabriel (1990) A discipline
divided : Schools and Sects in Political Science London, Sage.
Scott, James C. (1998) Seeing like a state: How certain schemes to improve the
human condition have failed. New Haven: Yale University Press
Weiss, Linda (1998) The myth of the powerless state. Governing the economy in
a global era. Cambridge, Polity Press pp.1-41
Further readings
Evans, Peter ‘ The state as a problem and solution: Predation,
embedded autonomy and structural change’ in Stephen Haggard and
R. Kaufman (eds) (1992) The Politics of economic adjustment:
international constraints, distributive conflicts, and the state
Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press.
Nordlinger Erik (1981) On the autonomy of the democratic state
Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Nettl, J. P. (1968) ‘The state as a conceptual variable’ World Politics
20
Dunleavy, Patrick and Brendan O’ Leary (1987) Theories of the state:
The politics of liberal democracy. London, McMillan ch.1 and 7.
Ringmar, Erik (1996) ‘On the ontological status of the state.’
European Journal of International Relations 2, (4) 439-66.
LECTURE 13 HEADS OF STATE: MONARCHICAL
SYSTEMS.
Why was monarchy the most common type of polity before the
twentieth century and what were its major weaknesses?"
Core reading
W.M. Spellman
Machiavelli
Monarchies. 1000-2000. Reaktion Books, 2000.
The Prince. (any edition)
J. Spence Emperor of China. A Self-Portrait of Kang-Hsi. Vintage,
1988. (all the book if possible but above all the chapter on
rulership)
D. Lieven
Nicholas II. Emperor of all the Russias.
Chapter 5 + pp 141-4.
Pimlico. 1994.
Additional reading
S.E. Finer, The History of Government (Oxford), 3 volumes.
LECTURE 14: PRESIDENTIALISM VERSUS
PARLIAMENTARISM.
What are the key differences between presidential, semipresidential, and parliamentery systems?
Are parliamentary systems more stable than presidential systems?
Core reading
J. Linz
'The Perils of Presidentialism', Journal of
Democracy, 1, 1, winter 1990, 51-69 (JC421) Or
‘Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy:
Does it Make a Difference?’ in Linz, J.J. and
Valenzuela, A. (eds), The Failure of Presidential
Democracy: Comparative Perspectives, Vol. 1, Johns
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore,1994
(CC) JF255 F16.
A. Lijphart ed.
Parliamentary versus Presidential Government,
OUP, 1992, introduction and passim (CC)
JF11.P36
D. Horowitz
‘Comparing Democratic Systems’, Journal of
Democracy, 1, 4 (Fall 1990), pp. 73-79 (JC421).
G. Sartori
Comparative Constitutional Engineering: An Inquiry
into Structures, Incentives and Outcomes,
Macmillan:
London, 1994/1997, esp. parts two and
passim (CC) JN5451 S25
Additional reading.
A. Stepan & C. Skach 'Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic
Consolidation: Parliamentarianism versus
Presidentialism', World Politics, 46, 1, October
1993, 1-22 (JX1)
M. Shugart & J. Carey Presidents and Assemblies: Constitutional Design and
Electoral Dynamics, Cambridge: CUP, 1992, ch.
3 and conclusion (CC) JF255 S56
G. O’Donnell
‘Delegative Democracy’, Journal of Democracy, 5,
1 (1994), 55-69 (JC421)
M. Shugart
‘The Inverse Relationship Between Party
Strength and Executive Strength: A Theory of
Politicians' Constitutional Choices’, British
Journal of Political Science, Vol. 28, 1998, 1, 1-29.
M. Scott
Democracy: The
'Presidentialism,
Multipartyism
and
Difficult Combination', Comparative Political
Studies,
26, July 1993 (JA3)
A. Valenzuela
Crisis', Journal of
'Latin
America:
Presidentialism
Democarcy, 4, 4, October 1993, 3-16 (JC421)
G.M. Easter
‘Preference for Presidentialism: PostCommunist Regime Change in Russia and the NIS’, World Politics,
January 1997, 49, 2, 184-211 (JX1)
LECTURE 15: COMPARATIVE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS.
Is there a trade-off between electoral proportionality and strong
government?
To what extent do mixed-member electoral systems combine the
advantages of proportional and plurality systems while avoiding the
disadvantages of each?
Core reading
Chandler, ‘The Plurality Vote: A Reappraisal’, Political Studies 30
(1982): pp. 87-94.
in
D. Farrell, Electoral Systems (2001), Chapters 2, 4, 5, 9.
M. Shugart and M. Wattenberg (eds), Mixed-Member Electoral Systems:
The Best of Both Worlds? (2000), Chapters 1, 2, 4, 14, 25.
R. Taagepera and M. S. Shugart, Seats and Votes: The Effects and
Determinants of Electoral Systems (1989), Chapters 2-3.
Additional reading
M. Dummett, Principles of Electoral Reform (1997).
B. Grofman and A. Lijphart (eds), Electoral Laws and their Political
Consequences (1986).
A. Lijphart, Electoral Systems and Party Systems: A Study of Twenty-Seven
Democracies (1994).
J. Curtice, ‘Why the Additional Member System Has Won Out in
Scotland’, Representation 33, 4 (1996): 119-24.
LECTURE 16 : CIVIL SOCIETY.
Is Civil Society just another name for democracy?
Can democracy exist without civil society?
Core reading:
G. Baker, ‘The Taming of the Idea of Civil Society’, Democratization
vol 6 no.3 (Autumn 1999), pp.1-30.
J. Cohen and A. Arato, Civil Society and Political Theory (New
Baskerville: MIT Press, 1997), Part One.
Diamond. L. ‘Towards Democratic Consolidation’ in L. Diamond
and M.F. Plattner, The Global Resurgence of Democracy (Baltimore and
London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996), pp.227-241.
K. Kumar, ‘Civil Society: an enquiry into the usefulness of an
historical term’, British Journal of Sociology, vol.44 no.3, (September
1993), pp.375-397.
Additional Reading:
N. Bermeo and P. Nord, Civil Society before Democracy: Lessons from
Nineteenth Century Europe (Rowan and Littlefield: Oxford, 2000).
Nelson M. Kafir, "The Conventional Notion of Civil Society: A
Critique," Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, vol. 36, no. 2 (July
1998), pp. 1-20.
V. M. Perez-Diaz, The Return of Civil Society: The Emergence of Democratic
Spain (Harvard University Press, 1998) chs. 1 & 2.
T. Skocpol, M. Ganz. And Z. Manson. ‘ A Nation of Organizers: The
Institutional Origins of Civic Voluntarism in the United States’,
American Political Science Review vol. 94. no.3 (September 2000), pp.52746.
LECTURE 17: HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE JUDICIARY.
What are human rights?
How are human rights related to democracy?
Core Readings:
D. Beetham (ed) (1955) Political Studies, Special Issue , Politics and Human
Rights (articles by Susan Mendus, Michael Freeman and David
Beetham)
M. Ignatieff (2001) ‘Human rights as politics and idolatry’ in M.
Ignatieff (ed) Human rights as politics and idolatry Princeton, N.J.
Princeton University Press.
S. Cohen (1996) ‘State crimes of previous regimes: Knowledge,
Accountability and the policing of the past’ Law and social inquiry
Vol.20 [see also rest of this Special Issue on “Law and Lustration:
Righting the Wrongs of the Past]
Additional Readings
J. Waldron, (ed) (1987) Nonsense on Stilts. Bentham, Burke and Marx on
the Rights of Man chapters on Bentham (ch3) and Marx (ch
R. Dworking (1997) ‘What rights do we have?’ in R. Dworking
Taking rights seriously London, Duckworth.
International Council on Human Rights (2002) Human rights after
September 11 Versoix[Great Britain]
Pion-Berlin, D.(1994)'To Prosecute or to Pardon? Human Rights
Decisions in the Latin American Southern Cone' Human Rights
Quarterly, 16, 105-130
Zalaquet, José (1998) ‘The Ethics of Responsibility, Human Rights:
Truth and reconciliation in Chile’ WOLA, Washington D.C.
Chapman, A. and Ball, P. (2001) ‘The Truth Commissions:
Comparative lessons from Haiti, South Africa and Guatemala’ Human
Rights Quarterly 23, 1, 1-43.
LECTURE 18: CENTRALISATION: FEDERALISM,
DEVOLUTION.
Distinguish between centralised, devolved, and federal states, giving
examples of each type.
What factors determine whether federalism is likely to promote
political stability or instability?
Core reading:
William Riker, Federalism: Origin, Operation, Significance (Boston: Little
Brown, 1964).
Daniel Elazar, Exploring Federalism (Tuscaloosa: University of
Alabama Press, 1987).
Michael Burgess and Alain-G. Gagnon (eds.), Comparative Federalism
and Federation (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1993)
Donald Horowitz, Ethnic Groups in Conflict (Berkeley: University of
California Press, rev. ed. 2000).
Additional reading:
Murray Forsyth (ed.), Federalism and Nationalism (Leicester: Leicester
University Press, 1989).
Philip Roeder, Red Sunset: The Failure of Soviet Politics (Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1993).
Sumantra Bose, Bosnia after Dayton: Nationalist Partition and International
Intervention (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002).
Sumantra Bose, Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace (Cambridge,
Mass. and London: Harvard University Press, 2003).
LECTURE 19: SYSTEMS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
Would the world be better without bureaucrats?
Will a self-interested bureaucrat always attempt to maximize her
budget? Will she always succeed?
Core reading:
B. Guy Peters and V. Wright (1996): “Public Policy and
Administration, Old and New”, in Goodin & Klingemann (editors),
A New Handbook of Political Science, Oxford University Press.
P. Dunleavy (1991): Democracy, Bureaucracy and Public Choice, Harvester.
Chapter 6.
Shepsle, K.and Bonchek M.S. (1997) Analysing Politics. Rationality,
Behaviour and Institutions, New York, W.W.Norton & Company, pp.535 and pp.345-379.
Wilson, W. (1993) “The Study of Administration”, pp.33-48, in Farr
& Seidelman (editors), Discipline and History, Ann Arbor, Michigan
University Press
Additional Reading:
Weber, M., (1976) “Bureaucracy”, in Geerth and Wright Mills
(editors), From Max Weber, New York, Oxford University Press,
pp.196-244.
Niskanen, W. (1973), Bureaucracy and Representative Government, Chicago,
Aldine.
W. Niskanen (1973): Bureaucracy: Servant or Master. London: Institute
of Economic Affairs, 1973.
Page, E.C., and Wright, V., (1999), “Conclusion: Senior Officials in
WesternEurope”, pp. 266-279, in Page and Wright (editors),
Bureaucratic Elites in Western European States, Oxford, Oxford
University Press.
ESSAY QUESTIONS.
Are we witnessing the demise of the ‘Westminster model’ in the UK?
Is devolution likely to invigorate Celtic nationalisms and lead to the
break-up of Britain?
Why has the power and status of local government in Britain
diminished over the last few decades?
Is electoral change in Britain explained by dealignment or
realignment?
Would increasing the power of the European Parliament reduce the
‘democratic deficit’ in the EU? Would this necessarily be a good
thing?
Is sovereignty a dichotomous variable (i.e. it either exists or it
doesn’t) or a continuous variable (i.e. you can have more of it or less
of it)?
To what extent should unelected judges wield political power in a
liberal democracy?
“Institutional theory has problems in explaining political
change”.Discuss.
Are institutions a condition of or a limit to democracy?
‘The state has become irrelevant in a globalised economy and
society.’ Discuss.
What desirable features should constitutional designers look for in an
electoral system?
“Human rights cannot be both universal and political.” Discuss
How should transitional democracies deal with perpetrators of
atrocities and human rights violations? Illustrate with reference to
one transitional democracy of your choice.
Why has Monarchy become discredited as a system of government?
How much do institutional factors determine a state’s chances of
democratic stability?
Which are more important in formulating trade policy, ideas or
interests?
Is federalism essential in a large multi-ethnic state?
A strong civil society is the best basis for democracy. Discuss.
Is there an inexorable tendency towards bureaucratic government in
modern societies?