Review of Semester 2

Issues Covered European Issues StatesFranceSpainGermany Territorial politics sub-state issues European Union General Issues Federalism Elections, parties and electoral systems The media Civil society

States - France n Old state - classic unitary ‘nation-state’? n Republicanism - default system n 5th Republic - response to instability? n Strong centre - étatisme and dirigisme n Executive(s) n Weak parliament? n Political parties - left-right split, but system fragmentation

States - Germany n Old nation - new state n Regime instability and authoritarianism to stable democratic state n Post-war Germany and reunification n Federalism n Heads of state and government n Executive and legislature n Political parties n consensual and co-operative politics

States - Spain n Old state - many nations n Regime instability and authoritarianism to stable democratic state n Constitution - asymmetrically devolved n Executive and legislature n Centre-regions tension

Comparing States n How can we compare states? n What are the differences between our 3 case studies? n Historical context n Constitution / type of state n Political system n Executive n Legislature n Parties and elections

Regions in Europe n Challenges to the Nation-State n Regionalisation and Regionalism n Stateless Nations n Case studies (F, D, E, UK) n A Europe of the Regions? n Multi-level Governance - is there a regional level of EU governance?

The European Union n Why integration? n Historical development n Complex and evolving political system n Policy-making n Future n Nature of the EU n federal superstate? n intergovernmental organisation? n or something else?

Federalism n definitions n prerequisites n balancing centripetal and centrifugal forces n advantages and disadvantages n different ‘federalisms’ n asymmetric, quasi- federalism n devolution

Political Parties and Elections n Political parties and interest groups n history n functions of political parties n different systems (1st, 2nd and 3rd Worlds) n Elections - why have them? n Different systems

The Media n Definitions n The media and political communication n Communication models n Factors affecting the media n Using the media n Impact (Information? Or agenda-setting ? Or determinant of public opinion?) n The future

Civil Society n Definitions n History n Traditions and different interpretations n Civil society in western and non-western societies n Civil society and democratisation