[2 Q. • 30 Th. • 3 ECTS - credits]
| Lecturer :
|
|
Vanderborght Yannick |
|
|
|
| Language of instruction :
|
|
French, but the supports (texts, slides) can be in English.
|
|
|
|
| Learning outcomes :
|
|
The main aim of this course is to familiarise the students with the comparative approach in political sciences through methodological reflections and applications to concrete cases. Learning of the fundamental principles of comparative politics should enable the students to analyse political dynamics in space, and to a lesser extent, in time.
|
|
|
|
| Prerequisites :
|
|
Knowledge of fundamental concepts in political sciences and sociology. |
|
|
|
| Course contents :
|
|
The course will start with a short epistemological reflection on the relevance of comparison in social sciences in general, and in political sciences in particular, with a review of the history of the comparative method as an experimental method. Then, it will focus primarily on one of the major issues of comparative politics: democracy. What links can be established between development and democracy? What is the impact of the religious factor? Are segmented democracies, such as Belgium, doomed to instability? Through these different questions, we will attempt to show the essential contribution of the comparative method in the analysis of contemporary political phenomena.
|
|
|
|
| Mode of delivery :
|
|
Lecture and discussions with the class. The students will be asked to pay particular attention to developments in political news.
|
|
|
|
| Assessment methods and criteria :
|
|
The written examination includes questions assessing the knowledge of the subject matter as well as a personal reflection based on a concrete case.
|
|
|
|
| Recommended or required reading :
|
|
No specific references at this stage.
|
|
|
|
| Other information :
|
|
Slides during the lectures, short summaries available afterwards on iFUSL. Importance of regular attendance to lectures.
|
|
|
|
