Special Issues in Comparative Politics. The Political Systems of the United States and Russia

Specific Foundation / Core

Upon succesful completion of the course, student shall be able to: - have a complete view of how the political systems under examination function (both institutionally and in practice) - be able to understand and analyze better the political developments in the countries under examination and, on the basis of such analysis, handle better the information received about these countries - further develop their capacity to work on their own and analyze these political systems - move towards elaborating well-founded opinions on major issues linked to the countries under examination.

This course comes as a continuation, with a more detailed analysis, of the compulsory course of the second semester entitled “Comparative Politics and political systems”. It examines more in-depth the political systems of two important countries: the United States of America and of Russia. As regards the US, the course introduces students to the American politics and its political institutions. It looks into the historical development of the country and analyzes the structure and functioning of its political system, with emphasis on its federal characteristics and the international role of the country. Firstly, it examines the history of the country and the elements that contributed to the shaping of the American political system and its federal institutions; then, it delves into specific issues of the structure and operation of the political system. The course also examines the role and evolution of federal institutions, the impact of political culture in this context and the importance and role of parties, interest groups and the economy in shaping policy. Special reference is made to the foreign policy and the international role of the United States and its consequences at domestic level, while the course also examines other parameters such as the political, social and racial inequalities and their impact on the political system, the integration of minorities as well as the development and implementation of public policies. The first part examines the institutions. The analysis emphasizes the foundations of the American system and the reasons that led to the formation of the US with an emphasis on its federal elements and the separation of powers. In particular, the following are examined: • What special features contributed to the formation of the US political system? • How and why were federal institutions formed and how (and why) have they evolved to this day? • Do checks and balances work today? It then approaches specific issues concerning the dynamic and (dys)functions of the current system: • What is the reason for the growing division within American society and where can polarization lead to? • What does the discrepancy between the coasts and middle America signal? • Can checks and balances work? • What are the consequences of the increasing numbers of ethnic minorities, especially Latinos? • What implications does the gradual weakening of the US leadership role have? The course follows the current political developments in the country's political system in view of the coming elections of 2024 and the ongoing internal divisions in the country. As regards Russia, the course examines the basic features of the Russian political system, its political institutions, both formal and informal, and the international role of the country. During the current academic year, it particularly examines how the country's political system evolved into the current authoritarian regime. This part will consider particularly the historical context of the formation of the Russian State, the impact of the transition from the Soviet Union in Russia and the elements that shape the political culture of the country. The course also examines the characteristics of the constitutional structure of the country (such as federalism and the semi-presidential system), and the current political situation (for instance the changing political context, the gradual transformation of Russia into an authoritarian country, the role of the leader/president in political life and the weak civil society). Emphasis is given to the unique federal system of the country, the role of ethnic minorities in the political system and the specific features of the Russian economy and society. It also examines the country's foreign policy in relation to the period of the Soviet Union and in comparison, with that of the US and the international role of the country in the current period both vis-a-vis its neighbors and to the EU, especially after the invasion on Ukraine. Schedule of lectures for the academic year 2022-3 Lecture 1. The historical formation of the United States • The foundations of the American political system • The American political culture • The U.S. Constitution Lecture 2. The federal system of the United States • The federal government • The federal-state relations • Checks and balances • A case study – the federal intervention on racism and the Civil Rights Movement Lecture 3. The party system • Political parties - the history of bipartisanship • Elections and the electoral system • Electoral participation • The role of interest groups Lecture 4. The U.S. Government • The role of the President • The federal administration • The role of the personalities Lecture 5. The Legislative • The Congress • The procedure for adopting laws Lecture 6. The Judiciary • The independence of the judiciary and the role of judges • The Supreme Court • The judicial intervention on the political system Lecture 7. Individual rights • The constitutional protection of civil liberties • Issues of judicial interpretation of the civil liberties • Two case studies – the right to bear arms and the right to abortion Lecture 8. The historical formation of the political system of Russia • The birth of the Russian state • The tsarist period • The Soviet Union Lecture 9. The creation of the current Russian state • Gorbachev's reforms and the dissolution of the Soviet Union • The new Russian state - the Yeltsin period • The consolidation of the Russian political system - the period of Putin-Medvedev • Putin as an absolute leader Lecture 10. The Russian political system • The transformation of Russia into a personalist authoritarian state • The federal dimension and Russia’s nationalities Lecture 11. The Russian political institutions • The executive, legislative and judicial power • The role of the President • the neutering of elections and the disappearance of effective political parties Lecture 12. Τhe Russian society and economy • The economy – from communism to the oligarchs and the return of the state and para-state economy. • The demographic issue Lecture 13. Τhe Russian and international relations • Russian efforts to become a world power – the use of energy and raw material • Revisionism and its impact on Russia’s relations to the “near abroad” – the invasion of Ukraine and the re-incorporation of Belarus • Towards a new relationship with the West and the world

political system, United States of America, Russia, comparative politics

26-10-2023