Political Systems
Objectives
a) To study different types of political systems, combining a theoretical analysis with an empirical approach.
b) To examine the historical evolution of political systems in distinct political context and geographical regions;
c)To identify the variation of institutional configuration of democratic regimes and non democratic political systems.
d) To analyze recent trends of political system change and, in particular, to discuss problems and challenges of contemporary democratic regimes.
General characterization
Code
01101343
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Marco Lisi
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 168
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
None
Bibliography
Linz, Juan. Autoritarismo e Democracia. Lisboa: Livros Horizonte, 2015.
Lobo, Marina Costa, e Octavio Amorim Neto, eds. O Semipresidencialismo nos Países de Língua Portuguesa. Lisboa: Imprensa de Ciências Sociais, 2009.
Teixeira, Conceição Pequito, ed. O Sistema Político Português. Cascais: Princípia, 2017.
Teaching method
Combination of theoretical classes (60%), with practical classes aimed either at the presentation and discussion of texts (20%), or at the operationalization of concepts and the empirical validation of arguments and explanatory hypotheses (20%) .
Evaluation method
The evaluation will be based on two elements: a group essay (40%) and a final exam (60%).
Subject matter
I. Political systems: theoretical approaches and characteristics
1. The concept of political system and systemic analysis
2. Totalitarian regimes: characteristics and variants
3. Authoritarian regimes: transformation and legitimation
4. The role of the military in non-democratic regimes
5. Hybrid regimes: conceptual definitions and empirical results
6. Sultanist regimes: origin, characteristics and transformation
II. Institutional variations of political systems
1. Presidentialism: the American model and other variants
2. Parliamentarianism in the European context
3. Semi-presidentialism and new democracies
4. Characteristics and functions of Parliaments
III. Political systems: the perspective of citizens
1. Political systems and direct democracy
2. Referendums in Europe and Portugal
3. Evaluation and performance of political systems
4. Institutional innovations and quality of democracy
Programs
Programs where the course is taught: