COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: GOVERNMENT, POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY IN ALBANIA
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
PIR 261 B 3 4 0 0 4 5
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: Lisen Bashkurti , Monday, at 14:30-17:30 hours
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Compulsory
Classroom and Meeting Time: Monday and Wednesday, at 12:30-14:30 time intervals
Course Description: The primary goal of this course is to obtain an understanding of the basic principles, functions and foundations of the Albanian system of government and politics. It aims to study the methods in which major and transformative changes take place in Albanian public policy. What makes some reforms succeed and other fail? Overall, this course explores the major political institutions and organizations in the Albanian policy process.
Course Objectives: The primary goal of this course is to obtain an understanding of the basic principles, functions and foundations of the Albanian system of government and politics. It aims to study the methods in which major and trans-formative changes take place in Albanian public policy. Why at makes some reforms succeed and other fail? Overall, this course explores the major political institutions and organizations in the Albanian policy process.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Introduction on political concepts, terms and definitions
2 The Constitution of Albania: Analysis; Sovereignty , Strengths and Weaknesses
3 The Parliament, the Prime Minister and the President
4 Political Parties: Structure, Policies and Ideas
5 Local Government
6 Elections and Voting: Electoral System, Electoral reform and Voting Behavior
7 Midterm Week
8 Democracy and Participation in Albania
9 Policy Analysis, Implementation and Evaluation System in Albania
10 Foreign Policy
11 Economic and Budgetary Policy
12 Environmental and Energy Policy
13 Health Care and Social Policy
14 EU Cohesion Policy and Accession: Important Issue for Albania
Prerequisite(s): N/A
Textbook: Albanian Journal of Politics, http://ajp.alpsa.org/ Beshku, K.; Malltezi, O. (2013), Albania and Europe in a Political Regard, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, New Castle: UK Albanian Institute for International Studies, http://www.aiis-albania.org/publications.html Politics of Albania, https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Politics_of_Albania.html Albanian Center for Economics Research, http://www.acer.org.al/
Other References: -Kushtetuta e Republikes se Shqiperise, 2016 - Albanian Journal of Politics, http://ajp.alpsa.org/ -L. Bashkurti, “National and European Identity of Albania”, ADSh, Tirane, 2006
Laboratory Work: N/A
Computer Usage: N/A
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 To understand the basic theoretical concepts, systems, developments, events that characterized the Balkan region from 1600 to 1900 century, by using comparative analysis between Habsburg and Ottoman Empires.
2 To have foundation knowledge and necessary analytical capacity to clearly understand how the geography and the history has impacted the Balkan Peninsula and what were the main differences in two parts of the Balkans.
3 To be able to use theoretical concepts and historical knowledge to find out why the Balkans has so many challenges in know a time.
4 To develop their critical approach about the lesson learned from the Balkan political history and its impact in current and future development of the Region on the way of their integration in UE and NATO.
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Bachelor in Business Administration (3 years) Program
1 Identify activities, tasks, and skills in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and economics. 2
2 Apply key theories to practical problems within the global business context. 5
3 Demonstrate ethical, social, and legal responsibilities in organizations. 5
4 Develop an open minded-attitude through continuous learning and team-work. 5
5 Use technology to enable business growth and sustainability. 3
6 Analyze data to make effective decisions. 3
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)
1
40
Final Exam
1
50
Attendance
10
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 15 4 60
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 0
Mid-terms 1 13 13
Assignments 2 11 22
Final examination 1 30 30
Other 0
Total Work Load:
125
Total Work Load/25(h):
5
ECTS Credit of the Course:
5