| CODE | PPG2006 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Elections and Electoral Systems | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Policy, Politics and Governance | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | 鈥楨lections and Electoral Systems鈥� examines the processes through which political representatives are selected and the impact of different electoral systems on governance and democracy. It explores the principles of democratic elections, the role of political parties, voter behaviour, and the influence of institutional design on political outcomes. The study-unit covers major electoral systems such as first-past-the-post, proportional representation, mixed systems, and alternative voting mechanisms. Through case studies from various countries, students analyse how electoral rules shape political competition, representation, and policy-making. The main objective of this study-unit is to provide students with a deep understanding of how electoral systems function and their implications for democratic governance. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to introduce the role of elections and electoral systems in politics. It aims to: - Provide an understanding of electoral systems 鈥� examining their structures and variations across different political contexts; - Analyse the impact of electoral systems on governance and democracy; - Explain how different electoral designs influence voter participation, decision-making, and political engagement. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the different types of electoral systems and their impact on political representation and governance; - Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different electoral frameworks across countries and political contexts; - Examine how electoral systems influence political competition, party dynamics, government stability, and democratic legitimacy. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Assess electoral system effectiveness and interpret voting patterns and political outcomes; - Compare electoral systems across different political contexts and understand their implications; - Articulate arguments on electoral systems, voter behaviour, and democratic processes. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Farrell, D.M. (2011), Electoral Systems: A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd ed. - Herron, E.S. et al. (eds.) (2021), The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems (Oxford Handbooks), Oxford University Press. |
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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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