The "Populist Explosion": Party Strategies and their Consequences in Europe - Einzelansicht

The course offers a structured knowledge of the resurgence of radical populism in Europe. It looks at the reasons for this ”populist explosion”, as the American journalist John Judis (2016) put it, challengers’ entrepreneurial strategies and established parties’ strategic responses, and how this affects political spaces. Anchored in the spatial theory of party competition, this course combines the demand and supply sides of politics to provide students with a comprehensive framework for understanding and analysing the contemporary game of politics. Although the course is primarily based on theoretical knowledge, it will also cover the dynamics of party competition, methods for estimating party positions, and the dimensionality of political spaces. Theoretical concepts and methodological approaches will be discussed interactively with students and applied to Germany and other European countries.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

- Students will develop a structured knowledge of the factors affecting the demand and supply sides of politics and the intricate relationship between the two.

- Students will be provided with tools to understand and critically evaluate contemporary political dynamics.

- Through in-class exercises, home assignments and presentations, students will be able to apply their knowledge to a variety of real-world scenarios.

De Vries, C. E., and Hobolt, S. (2020). Political Entrepreneurs: The Rise of Challenger Parties in Europe. Princeton University Press.

There are no formal prerequisites for participation in this seminar. However, it is strongly recommended that you have completed the research design seminar and have some basic knowledge of political science, sociology, and economics.

Assessment Methods:

1. Seminar ("pass"):

• Home assignments
• Project presentation
• In-class debates and general discussions

2. Module exam: seminar paper

Registration and withdrawal deadline for the module final examination: 17.10.2024 - 30.03.2025

Further details will be discussed in class. 

MA students in Political Science, Sociology, and National and International Administration and Policy (MANIA).