Winter 2006

Dr. Bilocerkowycz

Office: St. Joe's # 205

Office Hours: Mon. 4:30 –5:30 and Fri. 2- 3 or by appointment at a mutually convenient time

Office Phone: 229-2231 (with voice mail) or dept. secretary 229-3626

E-mail: Jaro.Bilocerkowycz@notes.udayton.edu

Webpage: http://academic.udayton.edu/JaroBilocerkowycz/

 

Why has the conflict over Northern Ireland between the British and Irish and Protestants and Catholics been so bitter and how significant has been the Good Friday Accord?  What explains the French riots of 2005 and how has the French government responded? Has German reunification been a rousing success or a big disappointment?  Will the European Union become a dominant political and economic bloc or is it beset by internal problems?  Why was the EU Constitution defeated and what are the implications? What are the politics and challenges of NATO enlargement?

This course will examine the politics of Western Europe, with emphasis on the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.  We will analyze and compare the "Big Three" in terms of their political and constitutional development, political culture, institutions, political behavior and processes, leaders, ethnic problems, and economic performance.  Attention will also be given to German reunification, the European Union, and NATO enlargement.

Your course grade will be based on the following weighted components:

midterm exam     30%  Feb. 22, Wed. (tentative date)

final exam            30%  May 1, Monday 12:20-2:10

research paper    30%  due in class on March 22, Wed.

class participation 10% (includes steady attendance, active participation in class discussions, and timely completion of any other assignments—including READING assignments)

The midterm and final exams will consist of essay and shorter-answer questions (identification, true/false).  Documented instances of serious illness or family emergency are the only acceptable excuses for missing a scheduled exam, and in such cases, the INSTRUCTOR SHOULD BE NOTIFIED BEFORE THE EXAM.  You are responsible for any announcements or assignments made in class even if absent.  Please check with fellow students about missed assignments or announcements. 

The research paper requirement will be discussed in class.  The length of the paper—the body—should be 10 pages (typed and double-spaced). 

Among the student outputs--skills and abilities--this course seeks to promote are the following:

1. knowledge and understanding of European politics, economics, and society

2. ability to compare European developments and processes across the "Big Three"

    and where appropriate drawing comparisons with the United States

3. understanding the dynamics and challenges of European integration

4. ability to use relevant concepts to describe and explain developments

5. ability to do independent research on European politics and society

 

TEXTS:

Philip Norton, The British Polity, 4th edition, 2001.

David Conradt, The German Polity, 8th edition, 2005.

Alistair Cole, French Politics and Society, 2^nd edition, 2005.                                                               

Electronic and Hard-Copy Library Reserve Readings, under Dr. Bilocerkowycz, POL SCI 320.

The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus when deemed necessary.

 

TOPICS

*indicates items on Library Reserve

1. INTRODUCTION:  POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, POLITICAL CULTURE, AND SOCIETY

 

2. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Norton, Chpts. 3, 13.

Conradt, Chpts. 1, 2.

*Bullock, "The Dictator," Hitler: A Study in Tyranny, 372-410.

 Cole, Chpts. 1 & 2.

*Cranston, "The French Revolution in the Minds of Men," The Wilson Quarterly, 46-55.

*Nixon, "DeGualle," 40-69, 80.

 

3. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Norton, Chpt. 4; Chpt. 14 (pp. 365-375; 382-387). 

Conradt, Chpt. 10 (pp. 285-293); Chpt. 8 (pp. 245-255); Basic Law in Appendix; and Chpt. 9.

Cole, Chpts. 4 ; Chpt. 5 (only pp. 91-93).

 

4. POLITICAL CULTURE

*Empirical Data from The Civic Culture

Norton, Chpt. 2.

Conradt, Chpt. 4 .

Cole, Chpt 3.

*Meunier, “The French Exception,” Foreign Affairs, July/Aug. 2000, 104-116.

* Economist, “The Changing of the Guard,” Nov. 29, 2004, 1-6.

* Economist, “Spot the Difference: French Anti-Americanism,” Dec. 20, 2005, 1-6.

 

5. SOCIAL-ECONOMIC CONTEXT

Norton, Chpt. 1; Chpt. 14 (pp. 375-382).

*Economist, "Britain's Hospitals," 69-74.

Conradt, Chpt. 3; Chpt. 8 (pp. 236-245).

 Cole, Chpt. 11 (195-201) & Chpt. 12.

*Safran, excerpts from French Polity “Religion & Culture/Women,” 32-38, 41-44.

 

6. ETHNIC PROBLEMS: FRENCH RIOTS AND NORTHERN IRELAND

* “Rising Racism on the Continent,” 133-135.

* “French Riots,” 37 pages (diverse sources)

* Boyle and Hadden, "Options for Northern Ireland," from Developments in British Politics 2, 247-265.

Norton, Chpt. 10.

Cole, Chpt. 11 (201-213).

INTER-EUROPEAN CHALLENGES

 

7. EUROPEAN UNION: REGIONAL INTEGRATION

*Hoffmann, "The European Community and 1992," Foreign Affairs, Fall 1989, 27-47.

* Wood and Yesilada, The Emerging EU, 3^rd ed., Chpt. 7, “Enlargement,” 117-133.

* Economist, “Europe’s Farm Follies,” Dec. 8, 2005, 1-6.

* EU Constitution-Part I (Definitions and Objectives of the Union), 9-22.

* EU constitution Part II (Institutional Framework), 23-50, 59-61.
* Cohen-Tanugi, “The End of Europe?” Foreign Affairs, Nov./Dec. 2005, 55-67.

*Newhouse, “Europe’s Rising Regionalism,” Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb. 1997, 67-84.

Norton, Chpt. 9.

Conradt, Chpt. 10 (pp. 293-301).

Cole, Chpt. 13.

 

8. NATO ENLARGEMENT