Minority governments in contemporary democracies WSE-PO-E-MGCD
The course complements the activities in the field of contemporary political system. It allows students to present an analysis of a particular institution in systemic perspective while teaching comparative research. Special attention will be put on government without the support of a parliamentary majority in different political systems. The characteristics of these institutions will be carried out both on the basis of normative factors and extralegal (style of government, political culture, etc.).
List of topics:
1. Systems of governance - theoretical assumptions and practice . Introduction to system analysis in political science. Institutional analysis and comparative studies . The institution of government in the constitutional system. The phenomenon of rationalization of the parliamentary system .
2. The minority government - issues of definition and analysis of its creation and actions in the perspective of regulatory and non-regulatory factors . Categorization minority governments and separation of theoretical models.
3. Continuation of the previous classes. The assignment of states to each model.
4. Minority governments as a sign of dysfunction of the system and equal deviation in the functioning of the system. Exemplification - the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Commonwealth.
5. Minority governments as a result of the consensus paradigm of governance and specific political tradition.
6. Minority governments in Poland - an introduction to the legal analysis . Comparison of current regulations with the rules during the transition period . The procedure for appointing the Council of Ministers (the role of the second variant of the reserve).
Institution of constructive vote of no confidence , confidence and legislative veto - impact on minority cabinet. The role of the electoral law.
7. Extralegal factors that determine the functioning of the Polish minority cabinets. Influence of coalition government. Political culture in Poland. Style of governance by successive prime ministers of minority governments in the Third Republic.
8. Minority governments in the Third Republic in 1989-1997 - selected Issues . The specificity of the early years of transition. The dualism of the executive and government relations with the president. The procedure for appointing the government. Characteristics of the political scene and its dysfunctional for the political system stability .
9. Minority governments in the Third Republic in 1997-2007 - selected Issues The stabilization of the political system. The phenomenon of cohabitation . Cabinet minority as an alternative to a majority government - opportunities and threats .
10. Summing-up.
Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się
E-Learning
Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Poziom przedmiotu
Symbol/Symbole kierunkowe efektów uczenia się
Typ przedmiotu
Wymagania wstępne
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Efekty kształcenia
KNOWLEDGE
1. Has a thorough knowledge of rules of functioning of the political systems including their institutions
2. Be able to characterize different models of minority governments
3. Be able to define both systemic analyses and comparative perspective
SKILLS
1. Be able to explain reasons of creation of minority governments in different political systems
2. Be able use systemic analyses to explain of functioning of minority governments
3. Have foreign language skills in political science according to requirements for B2+ level of the European Common Framework of Reference for Languages
SOCIAL COMPETENCES
1. Be able to develop his/her knowledge of the political science phenomena, taking into consideration the interdisciplinary approach
Kryteria oceniania
Assessment depends on the fulfillment of the following requirements:
1. active participation –30% of the final grade
3. successfully the final oral exam consisted of open questions – 70% of the final grade
Literatura
Basic literature:
• The Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Dz.U. No. 78, item 483)
• Constitutions of selected countries
• K. Strøm, Minority government and majority rule, Cambridge 1990
• S. Sulowski, ed., The Political System of Poland, Warsaw 2007
Other publications:
• T. Bergman, Constitutional Rules and Party Goals in Coalition Formation. An Analysis of Winning Minority Governments in Sweden, Umea 1995
• J. Blondel, F. Müller-Rommel, Cabinets in Western Europe, Basingstoke 1988
• J. Blondel, F. Müller-Rommel, Cabinets in Eastern Europe, Basingstoke 2001
• C. Crombez, Minority governments, minimal winning coalitions and surplus majorities in parliamentary systems, “European Journal of Political Research”, vol. 29, 1996
• V. Herman and J. Pope, Minority Governments in Western Democracies, “British Journal of Political Science”, vol. 3 no 2, 1973
• P. Eliadis, M. M. Hill and M. Howlett, eds., Designing government : from instruments to governance, Montreal 2005
• G.M. Luebbert, Coalition theory and government formation in multiparty democracies, “Comparative Politics”, vol. 15, no 2, 1983
• M. Maor, Parties, conflicts and coalitions in Western Europe. Organizational determinants of coalition bargaining, New York 1998
• C. Nikolenyi, Minority governments in India: the puzzle of elusive majorities, London 2010
• G. Pech, Coalition governments versus minority governments: bargaining power, cohesion and budgeting outcomes, “Public choice”, vol. 121, no 1 (October), 2004
• P.H. Russell, Two cheers for minority government: the evolution of Canadian Parliamentary Democracy, Toronto 2008
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: