INTS 281-01, Governments and Politics of Western Europe, Fall 2009

Abstract

The course examines the past and present political, economic, and social landscape in Western Europe. The course aims to provide students with the necessary tools to compare and analyze political systems and processes in Europe within a conceptual framework. It has four main components. First, the course presents students with the historical, social and political specificities of post-WW II Western Europe as a distinct region, as well as the diversity within the area itself. Second, it discusses the political, governmental, and economic institutions and processes associated the democratic regimes in the region. Third, it introduces students to the process of European integration and its impact on the politics of contemporary Europe. Finally, the course looks at the region’s place in international relations and discusses some of the most pressing challenges faced by European states and societies today.