Comparative Institutions & Public Policy - POL00077M

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Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

The aim of this module is to enable students to develop an advanced understanding of central questions in the comparative analysis of political institutions around the world. Students will examine most important institutional configurations across political systems, namely electoral rules, party systems, parliamentary vs. presidential government, models of public administration, federal institutions and models of welfare provision. As students engage with the operation and function of key political institutions, they will also be introduced to some of the most interesting questions and current debates within comparative politics. These include the analysis of the consequences of institutional configurations for government performance and political stability, the definition of democratic vs. authoritarian systems and the challenges for democratic governance under regional integration. To do so, it will develop comparisons across a broad range of countries that will include long-established western democracies as well as newer democracies.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content:

• Understand key institutional differences between political systems
• Analyse the implications of different institutional configurations for democratic governance and political stability
• Identify most important differences and similarities between models of welfare provision
• Understand key issues in the debate on democracy as well as on its challenges under globalisation

Academic and graduate skills:

• Communication skills - present clear and cogent arguments in both written and oral forms
• Interpersonal skills - through team exercises and case studies
• Research skills - especially using primary sources from international organizations and governments databases, as well as secondary sources.

Module content

1. Introduction

2. The comparative method

3. Democracies and dictatorships

4. Electoral Systems

5. Parties and party systems

6. Presidentialism versus Parliamentarism

7. Making and Breaking of Governments

8. Models of Public Administration

9. Autocratic Institutions

10. Democratic Backsliding

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100

Module feedback

Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.

Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.

Indicative reading

Gandhi, J. and R. Ruiz-Rufino (eds.) (2015) Handbook of Comparative Political Institutions. Routlegde.

Gallagher, M., Laver, M., & Mair, P. (2011). Representative government in modern Europe. McGraw-Hill.

Boix, C., & Stokes, S. C. (Eds.). (2007). The Oxford handbook of comparative politics. Oxford Handbooks Online.

Esping-Andersen, G. (2013). The three worlds of welfare capitalism. John Wiley & Sons.

Rodrik, D. (2011). The globalization paradox: democracy and the future of the world economy. New York.