Political Institutions and Political Processes

Politične institucije in politični procesi

Course credits:

12.00 ECTS / 60 (30 hours of lectures, 0 hours of exercises, 30 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

prof. dr. Jernej Pikalo

Type:

Required

Language:

English

Semester:

First semester

Study degree

2. level

Course execution:

• Postgraduate Programme of Political Science – Political Theory, Global and Strategic Studies

Prerequisits:

Students are allowed to participate in the course provided that they have completed the enrolment procedure.ure.

Objectives and competences

Get familiar with contemporary political institutions and processes not just in national, but also in regional and global contexts. Develop a comprehensive analytical framework to critically evaluate political institutions and procesess. They will be encouraged to identify, reflect and critically asses political institutions and processes from a variety of perspectives. Use the gained knowledge in practice. Further develop their writing skills and their ability to convey essential points of original analysis in a clear and concise manner.

Content (Syllabus outline)

The course familiarises students with key political institutions and processes. In the first part, methods and methodologies for researching political institutions are presented (institutionalism, behaviourism, new institutionalisms, ‘bringing-the-state-back-in’ theory, etc). The second part focuses on identifying, defining and analysing political institutions. Genealogies of institutions are presented. In the third part students familiarise themselves with developmental role of political institutions in various contexts, including the role of the state.

Intended learning outcomes:

Students will gain a comprehensive knowledge regarding contemporary political institutions and their development, including methods for identifying and researching. They will be able to identify, understand and articulate limits of various political institutions. They will gain a comprehensive insight into the genesis and development of theories and methodologies that research on political processes and institutions. They will be able to differentiate between key concepts and methodologies. They will gain knowledge to develop and use a complex research framework for a comprehensive analysis of political institutions in various contexts.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lectures, guided debates, case studies, projects, seminars.

Assessment

70 % Written exam 30 % Seminar attendance and participation

Obligatory literature

Additional literature