GV454 Half Unit
Parties, Elections and Governments
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Torun Dewan
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in European and International Public Policy, MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in Political Science and Political Economy. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Tuesday 29 September 2020. You will be informed of the outcome by 17:00 on Wednesday 30 September 2020.
Pre-requisites
There are no formal prerequisites.
Course content
The course focuses on key topics in political science concerning voting and representation. Topics covered include:
• Party and Candidate Strategy
• The Role and Origins of Parties
• Government Formation and Termination
• Electoral Systems: Franchise, Ballot, and Allocation formulas
• Leadership
• Political Careers
• Government Accountability
Examples will be drawn from a wide range of democracies.
Teaching
This course is delivered through seminars totalling 20 hours across the Lent Term. Some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus seminars. There is a reading week in week 6 of the LT.
In week 11 students will sit a two hour mock exam.
Formative coursework
All students are expected to submit one non-assessed essay.
Indicative reading
The course is focussed mainly on journal articles. However the following books are relevant to some of the topics covered
Gary Cox, Making Votes Count (1995); Gary Cox & Mathew McCubbins, Setting the Agenda (2005); George Tsebelis, Veto Players (2002); Kenneth Shepsle and Mark Boncheck, Analysing Politics (1997); Tim Besley, Principled Agents (2005); John Aldrich, Why Parties (1995); Bruce Bueno de Mesquita. Alastair Smith, Randolph Siverson and James Morrow, The Logic of Political Survival (2003); Giovanni Sartori, Comparative Constitutional Engineering (1997); Michael Laver & Norman Schofield, MultiParty Government: The Politics of Coalition in Europe (1990).
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the summer exam period.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2019/20: 16
Average class size 2019/20: 8
Controlled access 2019/20: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Communication
