Course description

This unit investigates the electoral context of policy making. It does this by deepening students’ knowledge of the key institutions, actors and phenomena of electoral politics across the liberal democratic world. Students will learn more about the history, evolution and impact of political parties; the impact that different electoral systems have; changing modes of campaigning used by parties, interest groups and social movements; and the impact of populism on liberal democracy.

Learning outcome

This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:

Explain and critically analyse the way in which political parties and party systems have evolved

Identify the range of actors and institutions involved in electoral politics, including using the methods of comparative politics to compare these actors and institutions

Instructions/directions

Write a 275 word summary for each reading highlighting the key points and concepts for each reading.

Readings

Ware, A. (1996). Political parties and party systems. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 1-13 and 147-174.

Kefford, G. 2017. \’Rethinking Small Political Parties: From Micro to Peripheral\’. Australian Journal of Political Science. Volume 52, Issue 1, pp.95-109

Renwick, A. (2010). The politics of electoral reform: changing the rules of democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp.1-24.

Farrell, D. 2001. Electoral Systems: A Comparative Introduction. London: Macmillan. pp. 1-18.