Undergraduate Course: Party Politics and Welfare States in Democratic Capitalism (SCPL10041)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course aims to analyse the relationship between party politics and welfare states: How does party politics shape the welfare state and capitalist development? And how does the welfare state and capitalist development shape party politics? In addressing these questions, the course takes a comparative-historical approach, with a particular focus on the causes and consequences of the 'populist wave' in the party systems of Europe. |
| Course description |
The course is organized in three parts.
In the first part, we trace the origins of European party systems during the 'national' and 'industrial' revolutions and review classic theoretical debates on the emerging relationship between capitalism, welfare states and democracy.
In the second part, we will analyse the role of party politics in shaping the rise and fall of the 'golden age' of the welfare state in the post-war era.
The third part will engage with the political and economic causes and consequences of the 'populist wave' sweeping across Europe. We conclude with a discussion about how comparative history can be used as an analytical tool to understand the contemporary transformation of party systems and welfare states.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
30% 1,500 word essay«br /»
70% 3,000 research project«br /»
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| Feedback |
The feedback from assignment 1 will enable students to utilize previously discussed concepts and apply them in assignment 2 |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand theoretically the political and economic origins of modern party systems in European welfare states.
- Understand the political and economic context in which the 'golden age' of the welfare state developed in the post-war era.
- Identify the causes and consequences of the recent 'populist wave' in relation to the welfare state.
- Assess the role of political parties in shaping the relationship between capitalism, welfare states and democracy over time.
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Reading List
Lipset, S.M. and Rokkan, S. (1967). Party Systems and Voter Alignments: Cross-National Perspectives. Toronto: The Free Press.
Marshall, T. H., (1965) [1949]. Class, Citizenship, and Social Development. Essays by T.H. Marshall. N.Y.: Anchor Books.
Garrett, G. (1998). Partisan Politics in the Global Economy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Streeck, W. (2011). The Crises of Democratic Capitalism. New Left Review 71 (Sept.-Oct.).
Beramendi, P., Häusermann, S., Kitschelt, H., and Kriesi, H. (2015). The Politics of Advanced Capitalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hopkin, J. (2020) Anti-System Politics. The Crisis of Market Liberalism in the Rich Democracies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Both pieces of assessment will foster generic cognitive skills (e.g. critical analysis). The research project will also specifically develop attributes around accountability and working with others. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Philip Rathgeb
Tel:
Email: prathgeb@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Veronica Silvestre
Tel: (0131 6)51 337
Email: Veronica.Silvestre@ed.ac.uk |
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