Aims

Students will have to have a good knowledge of the various elements of the Belgian political system at a functional (e.g. government, parliament, parties, groups and the administration) and territorial (i.e. federalism and its mutations) level, and an ability to analyse events that mark the country's political scene.
The approach will not be legal, but politological. Students will need to know the main theories on the Belgian political system, and have information on surveys of changes in values and people's opinions.

Main themes

To study the basic structures of Belgian political society, and the main features of the attitudes and opinions of the people.
To make a detailed study of the electoral system and the party system, of the parties as such, and of the parliament, the government and the political élites.
To carry out a diagnosis of the problems facing Belgian society.

Content and teaching methods

Content
Part I: A.-P. Frognier
1. The national foundations of Belgium.
2. The socio-political structure of Belgium.
3. Belgian federalism.
4. The attitudes and political opinions of Belgian people.
Part II: L. De Winter
5. The electoral system and the party system.
6. Political parties.
7. The structure and functioning of the parliament.
8. The formation of governments.
9. The mechanism of government decision-making.
10. The recruitment and behaviour of political élites.
11. The downside of Belgian democracy:
a. "particracy", clientelism, corruption and the "new political culture";
b. community problems.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

A written examination.
Students will be given a portfolio of reading.

Other credits in programs