Aims

Students will acquire a good understanding of a comparative approach both in the epistemological sense (the kind of specific explanation it embraces) and in a purely methodological sense. They will also be able to design an empirical comparative analysis.
Additionally, they will be introduced to the principal comparative theories of political systems, including, in particular, a comparison of institutional structures, electoral systems and party systems.

Main themes

An introduction to the system of comparative political analysis on the basis of theoretical and methodological approaches.
A demonstration of its essential importance to political science, in which comparison acts as a substitute for experimentation on the level of both analysis and institutional engineering.
A comparative analysis, in western societies particularly, of electoral and party systems, political parties as such, pressure groups, parliaments and governments.

Content and teaching methods

Part I - A.-P. Frognier:
1. Political comparison as an intellectual device and as institutional engineering.
2. The methodology of comparative politics:
a. comparison in kinds of scientific explanation;
b. the strategies of comparative politics;
c. the logic of comparative politics;
d. time and comparison;
e. problems associated to quantification in comparative politics.
Part II - L De Winter:
a. electoral systems (characteristics - effects).
b. party systems;
c. political parties;
d. pressure groups;
e. legislative assemblies;
f. the formation and functioning of governments.

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

A written examination.
Students will be provided with a syllabus.