COURSE SYLLABUS: THE POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF SPAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Location: Granada, Spain

Partner Institution: University of Granada

Course Title (English): The Political Systems of Spain and the European Union

Course Title (Spanish): Sistema político en españa y en la unión europea

Sessions Offered: Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Instructional in: Spanish or English

Classroom Contact Hours: 45 contact hours

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4 quarter units

Prerequisites (English): None if taught in English

Prerequisites (Spanish): Intermediate II Spanish Level if taught in Spanish

Local Department: Language & Culture (CLCE)

Course Code: CLCE 325

Course Description

The objective of the course is to teach the student the basic fundamentals of politics and the contemporary history of Spain as well as to understand the principal elements that comprise the political system in the European Union. Using a basic schematic of the interpretation of contemporary politics the student will gain a dynamic comprehension of the actual function of politics in Spain and the European Union.

Program Schedule

1. What is Democracy

1.1 Towards an ideal model of democracy (R. Dahl)

1.2. Majority democracy vs. consensus democracy (A. Liphart)

2. Spanish Political Systems

2.1 Political history of contemporary Spain

2.2 The political transition and the constitution of 1978

2.3 The governments of democratic Spain (1977-2004). Political parties and the electoral system.

2.4 The territorial structure of Spain. Decentralization and the statutes of autonomy.

3. Political Systems of the European Union

3.1 Introduction: countries and statistics

3.2 History of the European constitution

3.3 The European constitution and the future of Spain

Activities

An essential part of the class consists of active participation in class on topics presented by the professor. The professor will indicate the reading material to prepare for each of the class lectures. The professor will show films and documentaries on the diverse elements of the Spanish political system and the European Union. Finally, in addition to class attendance, the student should complete a weekly commentary-reflection on current newspaper articles concerning Spain and the European Union that are assigned by the professor.

Course Evaluation

The final grade is determined by:

• Class attendance
• Class participation
• Weekly completion of comments on assigned texts and video viewings
• The grade of two exams that are completed during the course

Bibliography (Text and Materials)

• ALCÁNTARA SÁEZ, Manuel (ed.), Sistemas Políticos de la Unión Europea, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2000.
• ALCÁNTARA, Manuel y MARTÍNEZ, Antonia, eds., Política y Gobierno en España, Tirant lo Blanch, Valencia, 2001.
• AUBET, M. J., Democracias Desiguales, Serbal, 1995.
• BADÍA, F., Regímenes Políticos Actuales, Tecnos, Madrid, 1995.
• BERICAT, E. (ed.) El conflicto cultural en España: acuerdos y desacuerdos entre los españoles. CIS. Madrid, 2003.
• BERSTEIN, S. Los Regímenes Políticos del Siglo XX, Ariel, Barcelona, 1996.
• GARCÍA MORILLO, J., La democracia en España. Alianza editorial. Madrid, 1996.
• GALLAGHER, M. LAVER, M. Y MAIR, P. Representative Government in Modern Europe. Institutions, Parties, and Governments. McGraw-Hill. Boston. 2005
• GIBBONS, J., Spanish Politics Today. Manchester : Manchester University Press, 1999.
• GONZÁLEZ, J.J y REQUENA, M. (eds.) Tres décadas de cambio social en España. Alianza editorial. 2005
• GUNTHER, R., MONTERO, J. R and Botella, J. Democracy in Modern Spain. Yale  University Press. New Haven, 2004.
• JIMENEZ DE PARGA, M., Regímenes Políticos Contemporáneos, Tecnos, 1998.
• ALVAREZ JUNCO, J. y SHUBERT, A. (ed.) Spanish History since 1808. Arnold, London, 2000.
• LIPJHART, Arend, Modelos de Democracia. Formas de gobierno y resultados electorales en Treinta seis países, Ariel, Barcelona, 2000.
• MAGONE, J. M. Contemporary Spanish Politics. Routledge. New York, 2004.
• MURILLO DE LA CUEVA, Pablo Lucas y BLAS GUERRERO, Andrés de, Sistemas Políticos Contemporáneos, Teide, Barcelona, 1988.
• PANIAGUA, J. L (ed.) En torno a la democracia en España: temas abiertos del sistema político español. Tecnos. Madrid, 1999.
• ROMÁN, P. (coord.) (2001) Sistema Político Español. McGraw-Hill. Madrid, 2001.
• SARTORI, G., Ingeniería Constitucional Comparada, Fondo de Cultura Económica, México, 1994.
• SÁNCHEZ GONZALEZ, S. y P. MELLADO PRADO, Sistemas Políticos Actuales, Centro de Estudios Ramón Areces, Madrid, 1995.

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