Instructor
Comparative Public Opinion (two-term seminar), BA-level, AY 2016/17, AY 2017/18, University of Exeter
The module aims to equip students with the tools to understand and critically evaluate public opinion research, particularly in the context of Europe. The first part of the course deals with general theoretical frameworks. It addresses the formation of political attitudes and the relationship between parties and masses. The second part of the course applies these theoretical frameworks in the context of European integration. Since a lot of work in public opinion research is based on quantitative data, such as large-N surveys and survey experiments, an emphasis is also put on the development of skills needed to understand quantitative research. Students will learn to critically evaluate quantitative research in order to assess the extent to which a particular research design, data set, or analysis offers empirical support for the conclusion drawn by its author(s). The course follows a seminar style format that puts much weight on student involvement: the instructor will make brief remarks to introduce a topic, while the majority of the seminar builds on student presentations, student led discussions, and students’ (written) reactions to the required readings.
Politics in Europe (lecture), BA-level, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, University of Exeter
In this module you will address how changing patterns of governance (specifically, the rise of the regulatory state, globalisation, and Europeanisation) are affecting traditional models of governance, focusing on the political systems of the UK, France, Germany, Scandinavian countries and Eastern Europe. The theoretical foundations of the module lie in the combination of comparative politics and comparative political economy and Europeanization theory. You will examine the role of political parties, interest groups, legislatures, executives, judiciaries, the media and political participation. The latter part of the course deals with the political system of the European Union and the factors that explain public support and opposition to European integration.
Reading Contemporary Classis in the Social and Political Sciences, PhD-level, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, European University Institute
This is a unique seminar under the heading of ‘academic literacy’. The goal of the class is to encourage and broaden participants’ academic literacy by reading a range of contemporary classics in political and social sciences, by stimulating a thorough engagement with the texts, and by setting the texts in relation to other literature in the field. Several EUI Professors have suggested influential books that should be known to researchers beyond a cursory appreciation. Hence the class offers a comprehensive and versatile list of key readings to be discussed in class meetings. Each class we will have an EUI professor as a guest who introduces the discussion and for whom a respective book was particularly influential for his or her work.
RESEARCH DESIGN IN EUROPEAN UNION STUDIES, MA-LEVEL SEMINAR COURSE, FALL 2015
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, FLORENCE CAMPUS
In this class students will develop research designs and learn how to collect, analyze, and present data. The course emphasizes hands-on training that will provide useful skills for academic and professional settings. One of the main goals of the course is for students to become critical consumers of empirical social science research as well as competent producers of their own research. Therefore, coursework includes exercises and some research assignments. The course teaches students how to write a research outline, plan and engage in independent studies, to identify a study topic, formulate inquiry questions, organize a literature review, select appropriate research designs and methodologies and analyze the data and draw valuable and relevant conclusions. The class has two substantive goals: First, by acquiring a firm knowledge of research methods, this class should enable students to write scientifically solid research papers for the purposes of the MA program. Second, the class wants to develop students’ abilities to critically and independently evaluate published academic research. When working in a consulting firm, for an international organization, think tank or other agency, working with published research is a core skill – and therefore developing these skills is a central element of this class.
THE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, MA-LEVEL LECTURE COURSE, FALL 2014
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, FLORENCE CAMPUS
The European Union (EU) is a political community consisting of 28 member states with a unique institutional structure. While formally an International Organization, its structure resembles that of a state in many respects. The member states of the EU transferred considerable decision-making powers to Brussels and yet they remain key players in the political process. The goal of this class is to provide students with an understanding of the political system of the EU. It introduces students to the constitutional development of the EU, its institutions, and the political process at the EU level. The course also engages debates about the “democratic deficit” in Europe and examines variation in public opinion on European integration. Finally, the class takes into account recent and on-going developments, for instance the 2014 European Parliament elections and its implications.
INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT, BA-LEVEL LECTURE COURSE, SPRING 2013
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
The class is divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to domestic institutions. We discuss different political and electoral systems, the role of parties, party cleavages, and welfare states. We focus in particular on France, the UK, Italy, and Germany. Today, 27 European countries are bound together by their membership in the European Union (EU). These countries gave up considerable policy authority to the EU level. Consequently, policy making in Europe happens as much in Brussels as in London, Paris, Berlin, or Rome. The second part of the course examines the EU. We cover the history of the EU and its institutions as well as theoretical accounts that explain the process of European integration. While many European citizens embrace European integration, a considerable share of citizens in numerous European countries perceives the process as a threat and opposes it. Thus, public opinion affects and constrains European integration. Our examination of the process of European integration ends with a focus on citizens’ attitudes and their loyalties to the nation state as well as to the community of Europeans. We relate this discussion to the steps undertaken by EU member states to tackle the Euro crisis.
The module aims to equip students with the tools to understand and critically evaluate public opinion research, particularly in the context of Europe. The first part of the course deals with general theoretical frameworks. It addresses the formation of political attitudes and the relationship between parties and masses. The second part of the course applies these theoretical frameworks in the context of European integration. Since a lot of work in public opinion research is based on quantitative data, such as large-N surveys and survey experiments, an emphasis is also put on the development of skills needed to understand quantitative research. Students will learn to critically evaluate quantitative research in order to assess the extent to which a particular research design, data set, or analysis offers empirical support for the conclusion drawn by its author(s). The course follows a seminar style format that puts much weight on student involvement: the instructor will make brief remarks to introduce a topic, while the majority of the seminar builds on student presentations, student led discussions, and students’ (written) reactions to the required readings.
Politics in Europe (lecture), BA-level, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, University of Exeter
In this module you will address how changing patterns of governance (specifically, the rise of the regulatory state, globalisation, and Europeanisation) are affecting traditional models of governance, focusing on the political systems of the UK, France, Germany, Scandinavian countries and Eastern Europe. The theoretical foundations of the module lie in the combination of comparative politics and comparative political economy and Europeanization theory. You will examine the role of political parties, interest groups, legislatures, executives, judiciaries, the media and political participation. The latter part of the course deals with the political system of the European Union and the factors that explain public support and opposition to European integration.
Reading Contemporary Classis in the Social and Political Sciences, PhD-level, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016, European University Institute
This is a unique seminar under the heading of ‘academic literacy’. The goal of the class is to encourage and broaden participants’ academic literacy by reading a range of contemporary classics in political and social sciences, by stimulating a thorough engagement with the texts, and by setting the texts in relation to other literature in the field. Several EUI Professors have suggested influential books that should be known to researchers beyond a cursory appreciation. Hence the class offers a comprehensive and versatile list of key readings to be discussed in class meetings. Each class we will have an EUI professor as a guest who introduces the discussion and for whom a respective book was particularly influential for his or her work.
RESEARCH DESIGN IN EUROPEAN UNION STUDIES, MA-LEVEL SEMINAR COURSE, FALL 2015
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, FLORENCE CAMPUS
In this class students will develop research designs and learn how to collect, analyze, and present data. The course emphasizes hands-on training that will provide useful skills for academic and professional settings. One of the main goals of the course is for students to become critical consumers of empirical social science research as well as competent producers of their own research. Therefore, coursework includes exercises and some research assignments. The course teaches students how to write a research outline, plan and engage in independent studies, to identify a study topic, formulate inquiry questions, organize a literature review, select appropriate research designs and methodologies and analyze the data and draw valuable and relevant conclusions. The class has two substantive goals: First, by acquiring a firm knowledge of research methods, this class should enable students to write scientifically solid research papers for the purposes of the MA program. Second, the class wants to develop students’ abilities to critically and independently evaluate published academic research. When working in a consulting firm, for an international organization, think tank or other agency, working with published research is a core skill – and therefore developing these skills is a central element of this class.
THE POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, MA-LEVEL LECTURE COURSE, FALL 2014
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY, FLORENCE CAMPUS
The European Union (EU) is a political community consisting of 28 member states with a unique institutional structure. While formally an International Organization, its structure resembles that of a state in many respects. The member states of the EU transferred considerable decision-making powers to Brussels and yet they remain key players in the political process. The goal of this class is to provide students with an understanding of the political system of the EU. It introduces students to the constitutional development of the EU, its institutions, and the political process at the EU level. The course also engages debates about the “democratic deficit” in Europe and examines variation in public opinion on European integration. Finally, the class takes into account recent and on-going developments, for instance the 2014 European Parliament elections and its implications.
INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT, BA-LEVEL LECTURE COURSE, SPRING 2013
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
The class is divided into two parts. The first part is devoted to domestic institutions. We discuss different political and electoral systems, the role of parties, party cleavages, and welfare states. We focus in particular on France, the UK, Italy, and Germany. Today, 27 European countries are bound together by their membership in the European Union (EU). These countries gave up considerable policy authority to the EU level. Consequently, policy making in Europe happens as much in Brussels as in London, Paris, Berlin, or Rome. The second part of the course examines the EU. We cover the history of the EU and its institutions as well as theoretical accounts that explain the process of European integration. While many European citizens embrace European integration, a considerable share of citizens in numerous European countries perceives the process as a threat and opposes it. Thus, public opinion affects and constrains European integration. Our examination of the process of European integration ends with a focus on citizens’ attitudes and their loyalties to the nation state as well as to the community of Europeans. We relate this discussion to the steps undertaken by EU member states to tackle the Euro crisis.
Teaching Assistant:
DEMOCRACY AND TERRORISM, SPRING 2011
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
This course analyzes the causes and consequences of terrorism and assesses government efforts to counter terrorism in democratic countries in Europe. Major issues addressed in the class include: What is terrorism? How is it distinct from other forms of political violence? Why do some countries experience more terrorism than others? What motivates terrorist organizations, and how have these motivations changed over time in Europe since the 1960? Why do some people join terrorist groups? How do terrorist groups organize their activities, recruit members, raise funds, gain supporters, and select their means of violence and targets? What are the relations between European Muslims, Islamic terrorism, and policies of integration? How does the European Union organize to counter terrorism?
UNDIVIDED EUROPE: DEMOCRATIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AFTER COMMUNISM, FALL 2010
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
This course explores the collapse of communist rule in 1989, and the reaction of international institutions to the challenges of democratization, economic transition, ethnic conflict and European integration in an undivided Europe. As background, we will study the condition of states, nations and ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe before and during the Second World War. We will also study the nature of communist rule in Eastern Europe, of Soviet hegemony in the communist bloc, and of European integration in Western Europe during the Cold War. The two overarching questions at hand are: (1) How can we explain the great variation in the nature of political change in East European states after 1989?; and (2) What role have international institutions and other international actors played in shaping the course of this change? More broadly, what determines the utility of international organizations or other international actors in preventing conflict and promoting democratization and economic revitalization?
INTRODUCTION TO THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, FALL 2007 (IN GERMAN)
FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN
Diese Überblicksvorlesung richtet sich an Studierende im Grundstudium und führt in das Themen- gebiet der Internationalen Beziehungen ein. Was ist internationale Politik im Zeitalter der Globali- sierung, und wie unterscheidet sie sich von anderen Politikbereichen? Welches sind die wichtigsten Akteure der Internationalen Beziehungen (von der „Staatenwelt“ zur „Gesellschaftswelt“)? Neben den Merkmalen, den Akteuren und der Geschichte der internationalen Politik behandelt die Vorle- sung die wichtigsten Theorieangebote zur Erklärung der aktuellen Weltpolitik. Welche Rolle spie- len Machtgleichgewichte und hegemoniale Staaten? Sind demokratische Staaten friedlicher als an- dere politische Systeme? Mit welchen Ansätzen lassen sich Krieg und Frieden erklären? Wie kann man zwischenstaatliche Kooperation erklären? Spielen die Staaten angesichts der wirtschaftlichen Globalisierung überhaupt noch eine Rolle, vor allem im Vergleich mit nicht-staatlichen Akteuren wie multinationalen Konzernen oder Nicht-Regierungsorganisationen?
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
This course analyzes the causes and consequences of terrorism and assesses government efforts to counter terrorism in democratic countries in Europe. Major issues addressed in the class include: What is terrorism? How is it distinct from other forms of political violence? Why do some countries experience more terrorism than others? What motivates terrorist organizations, and how have these motivations changed over time in Europe since the 1960? Why do some people join terrorist groups? How do terrorist groups organize their activities, recruit members, raise funds, gain supporters, and select their means of violence and targets? What are the relations between European Muslims, Islamic terrorism, and policies of integration? How does the European Union organize to counter terrorism?
UNDIVIDED EUROPE: DEMOCRATIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AFTER COMMUNISM, FALL 2010
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
This course explores the collapse of communist rule in 1989, and the reaction of international institutions to the challenges of democratization, economic transition, ethnic conflict and European integration in an undivided Europe. As background, we will study the condition of states, nations and ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe before and during the Second World War. We will also study the nature of communist rule in Eastern Europe, of Soviet hegemony in the communist bloc, and of European integration in Western Europe during the Cold War. The two overarching questions at hand are: (1) How can we explain the great variation in the nature of political change in East European states after 1989?; and (2) What role have international institutions and other international actors played in shaping the course of this change? More broadly, what determines the utility of international organizations or other international actors in preventing conflict and promoting democratization and economic revitalization?
INTRODUCTION TO THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, FALL 2007 (IN GERMAN)
FREIE UNIVERSITÄT BERLIN
Diese Überblicksvorlesung richtet sich an Studierende im Grundstudium und führt in das Themen- gebiet der Internationalen Beziehungen ein. Was ist internationale Politik im Zeitalter der Globali- sierung, und wie unterscheidet sie sich von anderen Politikbereichen? Welches sind die wichtigsten Akteure der Internationalen Beziehungen (von der „Staatenwelt“ zur „Gesellschaftswelt“)? Neben den Merkmalen, den Akteuren und der Geschichte der internationalen Politik behandelt die Vorle- sung die wichtigsten Theorieangebote zur Erklärung der aktuellen Weltpolitik. Welche Rolle spie- len Machtgleichgewichte und hegemoniale Staaten? Sind demokratische Staaten friedlicher als an- dere politische Systeme? Mit welchen Ansätzen lassen sich Krieg und Frieden erklären? Wie kann man zwischenstaatliche Kooperation erklären? Spielen die Staaten angesichts der wirtschaftlichen Globalisierung überhaupt noch eine Rolle, vor allem im Vergleich mit nicht-staatlichen Akteuren wie multinationalen Konzernen oder Nicht-Regierungsorganisationen?