Comparative Politics

Specific Foundation

Upon successful completion of the modume, students will: (1) Possess a comprehensive overview of the literature in the main subfields of Comparative Politics. (2) Have acquired advanced knowledge of the key research questions and methodological approaches of the field, as well as analytical skills for comparing political systems across different contexts. (3) Be able to read and critically assess scholarly articles and prepare a fully developed original academic paper. (4) Be capable of understanding, analysing, and comparing the key features of contemporary political phenomena.

The module introduces students in an intensive and systematic manner to the field of Comparative Politics, providing a solid understanding of the main theoretical and methodological approaches as well as the key themes that shape the discipline. It is structured in two parts: the first offers an overview of the field from methodological, theoretical, thematic and research perspectives, aiming to familiarise students with the core concepts and analytical tools; the second focuses on selected political phenomena from a comparative perspective. Depending on the academic year, the empirical and analytical component of the module concentrates on major contemporary issues such as the crisis of traditional parties and the rise of the far right, the phenomenon of populism, the decline of democracy and the emergence of new forms of authoritarianism, the crisis of representation, and the transformations of political participation. By engaging with these significant contemporary trends, the module seeks not only to foster an understanding of crucial political developments in comparative perspective, but also to strengthen students’ research and analytical skills.

comparative politics, parties, political systems, democracy, representation

28-08-2025