| CODE | EST3199 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Political Parties in Europe | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | European Studies | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | As the fundamental connection between political institutions and citizens, political parties remain central to the democratic life of European political systems. However, while sharing this broad democratic role, parties throughout Europe differ significantly in their internal structures, functions, and policy performances. In the current climate, this diverse landscape is being reshaped by profound "shocks" to the establishment. To understand modern European politics, one must move beyond traditional models to account for the resurgence of nationalist identities, the normalization of far-right discourse, and a growing Euroscepticism that has transitioned from the fringes of debate to the heart of government policy. This study-unit is organized into four interrelated components. The first part provides the theoretical foundation by analyzing the historical cleavages, such as class, religion, and the urban-rural divide, around which European parties originally emerged. Crucially, this section now incorporates the "transnational cleavage," explaining how the friction between European integration and national sovereignty has provided the fertile ground necessary for the rise of the far-right. The second part analyzes the main European party families and the party systems of selected countries. While focusing on the traditional pillars of Social Democracy and Christian Democracy, this section examines how these "catch-all" parties are being challenged by populist movements. It explores the specific domestic conditions that allow Eurosceptic and radical-right parties to gain a foothold in some national parliaments while struggling in others. The third part focuses on the mechanics of political competition and electoral strategies. It investigates how the "Brexit effect" and the threat of further fragmentation have forced parties to adapt their electoral strategies in both national and European Elections. This includes an analysis of how mainstream parties often "co-opt" the rhetoric of the far-right to compete for an increasingly volatile and disillusioned electorate. The fourth and final part shifts the lens to the European Union level. It analyzes the emergence and functioning of Europarties, focusing on their interactions with domestic parties and their behavior within the European Parliament. Study-unit Aims: The primary objective of this study-unit is to provide students with a comprehensive theoretical and empirical foundation for understanding the evolving role of political parties within European democracies. Beyond mastering the basic mechanics of party politics, students will develop the analytical tools necessary to evaluate how historical party systems are responding to modern pressures. A core focus will be placed on the structural rise of far-right movements and the pervasive influence of Euroscepticism, examining whether these represent a temporary protest or a fundamental realignment of the European political order. The unit aims to equip students with the conceptual framework to trace the history, functions, and strategic interactions of European political parties from their post-war foundations to the post-Brexit era. Students will explore how traditional party families are adapting their policy platforms and electoral strategies to remain relevant in increasingly fragmented and polarized societies. Furthermore, special emphasis is placed on the dual nature of European party politics. The unit explores the emergence and behavior of EU-level political parties (Europarties), focusing on their legislative influence within the European Parliament and their complex, often symbiotic, relationships with domestic party affiliates. By the end of the unit, students will be able to critically assess the challenges of democratic representation in the EU, particularly the tension between national sovereignty and supranational political integration. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyze Historical and Modern Cleavages: Identify the traditional social divides (class, religion, center-periphery) that shaped the European party landscape and explain how the newer "integration-demarcation" cleavage has facilitated the rise of far-right and populist parties; - Evaluate Party Family Evolution: Critique the ideological shifts within major European party families, particularly Social Democrats and Christian Democrats—as they attempt to counter the electoral challenges posed by Eurosceptic and radical-right movements; - Deconstruct Populist Rhetoric: Apply theoretical frameworks to distinguish between different forms of populism and analyze how far-right parties utilize Euroscepticism to mobilize voters and influence the mainstream political agenda; - Examine Europarty Dynamics: Analyze the internal mechanics of EU-level political parties, assessing their ability to bridge the gap between national domestic interests and supranational policy-making within the European Parliament; - Compare National Party Systems: Conduct comparative analyses of selected European countries to determine why certain political systems are more resilient or more susceptible to anti-establishment movements and political polarization. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe how European parties work. This includes explaining the basic features of both national and EU-level parties, including how they are organized, how they are funded, and how they bridge the gap between local voters and Brussels; - Critically assess how European parties are performing today, specifically looking at how they handle major challenges like the rise of the far-right and the growing distrust of the EU; - Explain how parties compete for votes and influence. This includes analyzing how Eurosceptic rhetoric and the fallout from Brexit have changed the way parties promise policies and try to win over a skeptical public. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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