Contemporary political systems

Stacjonarne

The aim of the lecture is to familiarize students with the basic issues related to the functioning of contemporary political systems in the world. The classes will discuss the most important concepts, ideas and principles influencing the shape of political systems in the world. Using selected countries as an example, the most important models of political systems, their conditions and specificity will be discussed.

Classes will be conducted in thematic blocks covering the following issues: 1. The concept of a political system, political regime and political system

2. The evolution of defining and understanding political systems from ancient times to the present

3. Typology of contemporary political regimes

4. Discussion of the principles, procedures and norms of democratic, authoritarian and totalitarian regimes

5. The electoral system: majority and proportional electoral system

6. The electoral system in Poland

7. The political system of Great Britain

8. The political system of Germany

9. The political system of Russia

Przeworski, Adam, Alvarez, Michael, Cheibub, Jose, and Limongi, Fernando (2000), Democracy and Development: Political Institutions and Well Being in the World, 1950- 1990, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Ziblatt, Daniel (2017), Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Acemoglu, Daron and Robinson, James (2006), Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Boix, Carles (2003), Democracy and Redistribution, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Ansell, Ben and Samuels, David (2014), Inequality and Democratization: An Elite-Competition Approach, Cambridge University Press.

G.M. Luebbert, Coalition theory and government formation in multiparty democracies, “Comparative Politics”, vol. 15, no 2, 1983

M. Maor, Parties, conflicts and coalitions in Western Europe. Organizational determinants of coalition bargaining, New York 1998

Assessment depends on the fulfillment of the following requirements:

1. active participation –50% of the final grade

3. successfully the final exam - 50% of the final grade