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Politics of Europe (362-0-1)

Instructors

Andrew L Roberts
Scott, #205
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/advising.html

Meeting Info

Parkes Hall 223: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

This class will introduce students to the politics of Europe. It will cover both the historical evolution of European political and economic systems as well as current issues in European politics. It will focus more on topical and theoretical issues than the politics of individual European states. Some topics to be covered include state formation, the emergence of democracy, political institutions, the welfare state and varieties of capitalism, and the integration of Eastern Europe.

Learning Objectives

  1. Acquire and demonstrate foundational knowledge about the evolution of states, regimes, nations, and economies across Europe from the Thirty Years War to the present;
  2. Explore the structures and processes that have shaped the formation and change in territorial control, governance, identities, and economic structures in Europe;
  3. Assess whether the theories and concepts developed to explain European politics can be applied to other regions of the world;
  4. Evaluate and reflect upon the extent to which European politics is shaped by geography and institutions relative to interests and agency;
  5. Identify alternative explanations for the relative successes and failures of political development in Europe and use evidence to critique these explanations;
  6. Compare and contrast the evolution of countries in Europe and the current challenges that they face.

Teaching Method

Lecture and discussion

Evaluation Method

Two midterm exams, final paper, short exercise

Class Materials (Required)

None

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area