Posted: September 13th, 2017

Comparative Politics and Governance

Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

Choose one of the questions from below. The essays should use examples from at least THREE case study countries to illustrate their answers. The CASE STUDY COUNTRIES ARE (USA, FRANCE, RUSSIA, SPAIN): all must be referenced and bibliography.

1. Using examples from case study countries, discuss which electoral system you consider provides the best level of political representation for the diverse interests within society.

2. To what extent does the concept of ‘Political Culture’ give a satisfactory explanation for the different levels of political participation found in case study countries?

3. ‘The ability of Civil Society to act as an effective counterbalance to the power of the State in the case study countries is overrated’. Discuss.

4. Assess the extent to which the main critiques of the Liberal Democratic model apply to case study countries.

5. How do you explain the variation in the democratic nature of the polity between the case study countries?

6. ‘A clear ideological identity is no longer a central element of contemporary political parties’. Discuss in relation to the case study countries.

7. Analyse the reasons for the growth or persistence of sub-national regionalism in some of the case study countries.