POLS 360-0001: Government and Politics of
Fall Semester 2009
Instructor: Asst. Professor Michael Clark
Class Time: Mon/Wed, 3.30-4.45pm
Class Location: DuSable 461
Professor’s Office: Zulauf 416
Office Hours: Mon/Thurs, 10.00-11.30am
Office Phone: (815)-753-7058
E-Mail: mclark12@niu.edu
The purpose of this class is to provide students with a broad introduction and understanding of European governing institutions, actors, and political processes. Though this is primarily a Political Science class, it is impossible to discuss European politics without consideration of historical events, as well as social and economic development. The course objectives are for students to learn:
1)
The background to, and development of, contemporary
2) How the formal and informal institutions of government in a number of major European countries work
3) How those institutions, along with political actors, affect both decision- and policy-making
4) What major issues are currently affecting citizens in Western Europe
While we will cover a number of different subjects in the
course, a major focus will be the institutions of government, and the process
of political representation. Given that
we will be covering current events, it is “highly” recommended that
students spend a few minutes each day catching up on what’s going on in the
news in
1. European Politics, eds. Colin Hay and Anand Menon
(
2. The European Union: A Very Short Introduction 2nd edition, John Pinder (Oxford University Press, 2007)
3. The
4. Additional readings to be assigned (available online through Blackboard)
5. A quality news source such as The Washington Post,
New York Times or The Economist (to keep up on current events in
Class Attendance:
Attending lecture is not compulsory, but is absolutely essential since we cover alot of material fairly quickly, and also because lecture will include discussion of material not found in the readings. Lecture is an opportunity to expand on, and apply ideas from the readings, as well as for students to discuss the reading and to ask any questions.
1. Students are expected to attend all classes.
2. Students are required to have read the assigned readings prior to class and to be prepared for class discussion.
3. There may be surprise quizzes throughout the course of the semester.
4. Students will be required to submit an 8-10 page paper relating a news article to concepts from class. More details at the end of the syllabus.
5. There will be three exams – two midterms taking place during weeks 5 and 9 respectively, and a final exam. Exams will consist of some combination of multiple-choice, short answer, and essay-style questions.
Course Grading:
The breakdown of grading for each piece of work will be as follows:
Midterm 1 – 20%
Midterm 2 – 20%
Final Exam – 25%
Paper – 15%
Class Participation (Possible Quizzes) – 20%
Course Grades will be distributed as follows:
Final Overall Percentage Final Letter Grade
90-100 % A
80-89 % B
70-79% C
60-69% D
Below 60% F
***Extra-credit
assignments are not an option so please do not ask***
Course Policies (pay close
attention!):
1. Makeup Exams: Makeup exams will only be given in very special circumstances. If such circumstances arise, please contact the instructor as soon as possible and before the scheduled exam. To keep the process fair for everyone in the course, students will be asked to support requests for makeup exams with appropriate documentation. A missed examination without prior notification and an approved reason will result in a zero.
2. Late papers: Late papers will not be accepted. Papers are due in class on the day
that the paper is due. If you fail to turn in the paper on the appropriate day,
you will receive no score for the paper.
E-mailed papers will not be accepted, not withstanding absolutely
exceptional circumstances.
3.
Handouts: Handouts are a privilege for those students
who attend class on a regular basis. No student is entitled to supplemental
materials simply because they are registered for the course.
4.
Classroom Etiquette: Attendance at all class
sessions is expected, and the instructor will check attendance. Active and informed participation in class
discussion will make for a better class, and can notably boost a student’s
final grade since 20% is set aside for class participation and/or pop
quizzes. Participation can also
significantly help students in borderline grade situations. Students are expected to arrive at class on time. Late
arrivals disrupt the class and will be treated as class absences. Too many class absences may result in
being dropped from the class.
Students are to remain for the entire session unless excused by the
professor beforehand or confronted with a serious personal emergency. It is not at all acceptable for students to
walk in and out of class to answer cell phones, take casual bathroom and
smoking breaks, or attend to other personal matters. Please silence your cell phone prior to the
start of each lecture and leave it where it will not cause distraction to
you or others. It is absolutely
unacceptable to sleep, use an iPod, read a newspaper, use a laptop for anything
other than taking class notes, or engage in other behavior that distracts the
instructor or other students from class once it has begun. No one should talk
while someone else is talking; and this includes comments meant for a classmate
rather than the entire group. Overall, classroom dialogue and behavior should
always be courteous, respectful of others, and consistent with the expectations
set forth by the university.
5.
Note taking: Although PowerPoint will be used for the
purposes of presenting class material it is imperative that students take
their own detailed notes during lectures.
The PowerPoint slides provide a broad outline of discussion topics but
do not cover everything. If you miss
class for whatever reason, be sure to obtain the notes from someone else in
class (making a friend in class is always a good idea).
6.
Incomplete Requests: Such petitions will be granted only
in extraordinary circumstances. The instructor reserves the right to ask for
documentation to verify the problem preventing completion of the course by the
normal deadlines. If the student does not present documentation from a
university office or official, the matter will be left to the instructor’s
discretion.
7.
Academic Dishonesty: Any written work for this
class will be checked electronically through on-line databases to assess the
originality of the work. Regarding plagiarism, the NIU Undergraduate Catalog states:
"Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy
material from books, magazines, or other sources without identifying and
acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either
cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a
grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the
university." The above statement encompasses a paper written in whole
or in part by another; a paper copied word-for-word or with only minor changes
from another source; a paper copied in part from one or more sources without
proper identification and acknowledgment of the sources; a paper that is merely
a paraphrase of one or more sources, using ideas and/or logic without credit
even though the actual words may be changed; and a paper that quotes,
summarizes or paraphrases, or cuts and pastes words, phrases, or images from an
Internet source without identification and the address of the web site.
8. Students with Disabilities: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those students with disabilities that may have some impact on their coursework for which they may require accommodations should notify the University's Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR). CAAR will assist students in making appropriate accommodations with course instructors. It is important that CAAR and instructors be informed of any disability-related needs during the first two weeks of the semester.
9. Department of Political Science website: Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study, research career options, tracking department events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu
Reading
Assignments (subject to change)
Week One (August 24th)
Monday:
Introduction (no reading assigned)
- Chs. 2 and 4 in European
Politics
Week Two (August 31st)
- Chs. 2 and 4 in European
Politics
- Chs. 1 and 3 in European
Politics
Week Three (September 7th)
Monday: No class –
university closed for Labor Day observance
Wednesday:
- Chs. 1 and 3 in European
Politics
Week Four (September 14th)
- Chs. 6 and 7 in European
Politics
Wednesday:
- Chs. 6 and 7 in European Politics
Week Five (September 21st)
Monday: Midterm 1
Wednesday: The EU – Origins, What It Is, And How It Works
-
- Chs. 1-3 in The European Union: A Very Short Introduction
- Ch. 11 in European Politics (suggested)
Week Six (September 28th)
Monday: The EU – Origins, What It Is, And How it Works
-
-
Wednesday: Contemporary
Challenges And Issues Facing The EU
- Chs. 9 and 11 in The
European Union: A Very Short Introduction
- “
Week Seven (October 5th)
Monday: Contemporary
Challenges And Issues Facing The EU
-
- “Victory for
- “A Taoiseach in Trouble” from The Economist, November 27th 2008
- “Nice Project, Shame About the Voters” from The Economist, November 19th 2008
- “Ever Greater
- “Fit at 50? A Special Report on the European Union” from The Economist, March 17th 2007
Wednesday:
-
- Chs. 4 and 7 in The United States of Europe (Ch. 5 suggested)
- “
- “
- “EU Warns of Legal Action Over Gas”, to be found online at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7827829.stm
Week Eight (October 12th)
-
- Robert Kagan, “Power And Weakness”, Policy Review, June/July (2002)
-
-
- “Public Holidays: An Idle Proposal”, The Economist, August 30th 2007
Week Nine (October 19th)
- Robert Kuttner, “The
- “Pricing Drugs: A New Prescription”, The Economist, February 22nd 2007
- “Drug Strategy Review: Prescription Renewal”, The Economist, July 26th 2007
Week Ten (October 26th)
- Ch. 12 in European Politics (don’t worry about the discussion of post-communist countries so much though its useful info for comparing and contrasting purposes)
- Ch. 7 in Citizen Politics (to be posted to BBoard or handed out)
Week Eleven (November 2nd)
Monday: A Changing Electorate
- Ch. 5 in Citizen Politics (to be posted to BBoard or handed out)
Wednesday:
A Changing Electorate & A Discussion of Elections
- Ch. 10 in Representative Government in Modern Europe 4th Edition (to be posted to BBoard or handed out)
Week Twelve (November 9th)
Monday:
Migration, Immigration, and Identity Politics
-
- Terri Givens, “Immigrant Integration in
Wednesday:
Migration, Immigration, and Identity Politics
-
- Markus Thiel, “Constraints on the Development of a European Identity: Territorial and Demographic Challenges”, EUMA, Vol. 4, No. 11 (2007)
- “Minorities in
- “Migration From
- “
- “
- “
Week Thirteen (November 16th)
Monday: Muslims in
- Timothy Savage, “Europe and
Islam: Crescent Waxing, Cultures Clashing” from The
- “
- “Special Report –
Wednesday: Muslims in
- Stephanie Giry, “France and Its Muslims”, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 5 (2006)
- “
- “Living With Islam: The New Dutch Model”, The Economist, May 31st 2005
- “Few Signs of Backlash From Western Europeans”, National Pew Global Attitudes Survey, No. 13, July 6th 2006 (opening 16 pages recommended)
Week Fourteen (November 23rd)
Monday: The Extreme Right in
- Reinhard Heinisch, “Success in Opposition, Failure in Government: Explaining the Performance of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Public Office”, West European Politics, Vol. 26, No. 3, July 2003 (pages to be read will be announced in class)
Wednesday: No class.
Thanksgiving break. Happy holidays!! Travel safely.
Reading: No reading assigned
Week Fifteen (November 30th)
Monday: The Extreme Right in
- “
- “
- “German Neo-Nazis: Welcome To
- “Anti-Semitism in
- “British National Party: Nasty, Brutish, and Short-Lived”, The Economist, August 5th 2004
- Jean-Marie Le Pen “The Wily Old Trooper Won’t Go Away” from The Economist, August 10th 2006
Wednesday: Terrorism in
- George Kassimeris, “
- U.S. Institute of Peace, “The Basque Conflict: New Ideas and Prospects for Peace”, Special Report, No. 161 (2006)
- “ETA Separatists Down But Not Out” to be found online at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7734143.stm
- “Timeline: ETA Campaign” online at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/545452.stm
PAPERS ARE DUE ON THE LAST DAY OF CLASS. A STAPLED, HARD COPY OF THE PAPER IS TO BE
TURNED IN AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS WHILE A SECOND COPY IS TO BE SUBMITTED TO
BLACKBOARD VIA SAFEASSIGN. PAPERS WILL
NOT BE CONSIDERED TURNED IN UNTIL THEY ARE UPLOADED VIA SAFEASSIGN.
Final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 7th,
4.00-5.50pm
The paper assignment
For the paper, you are required to write an original paper of 8-10 pages on one of the topics listed below these instructions. The paper should address the following points, all of which will be considered when determining the paper’s grade:
Thesis – Does the paper start with a clear thesis statement outlining the author’s argument? What will the author ultimately conclude?
Argumentation – Does the paper present balanced arguments recognising other sides of the debate?
Evidence – Does the paper make use of relevant/appropriate evidence from class lectures and readings?
Conclusion – Does the paper reach a clear and logical conclusion given the author’s thesis and the arguments and evidence presented?
Implications – Does the paper make a compelling case for the larger implications of the topic they address and the argument they make? Are there other topics, themes, or concepts from class to which this topic relates? If so, how?
Clarity – Is the paper well written and organised?
Presentation – Has the paper been spell-checked? Are there grammatical mistakes?
Please choose one of the following paper topics to write on (alternatively students may formulate their own specific question to address and can check with the professor if they want to be sure their question is appropriate):
1) The pros and cons of
developing the European Union
2) Expansion/Limitations of EU
power
3) Does the EU erode state
sovereignty?
4) Comparing the powers of
different executives (French President, British PM, German Chancellor etc)
5) Political participation in
6) The effect of different
electoral laws on representation and participation
7) Relevance of political
parties in West European politics (what functions they serve, where their
influence has declined)
8) Focus on a specific issue
affecting western Europe i.e. the growth of the Muslim population, the
immigration debate, the rise of the far-right in
9) Movements for self-autonomy
in Europe (ETA in
Given the relative shortness of the paper, part of the challenge here is to write clearly and concisely. Get to the point. Additionally, your paper should make use of relevant readings from class. Once you’ve used relevant class readings, you may do some outside research if you feel it necessary. All papers should draw on a minimum of four sources/readings, and wherever possible, students should use assigned class readings. Lectures can also be cited, but not counted, as one of the four sources. Readings should be cited/footnoted (i.e. after mentioning comments made in a class reading on which you are drawing), and a bibliography should also be included as the last page. This page will not count towards the total page count. Any papers over 10 pages will be penalised, as will late papers at one third of a grade per day. Papers will be due December 2nd. Students are personally responsible for getting a hard copy of their paper to the professor. Papers MUST be submitted via SafeAssign also.