COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: PARTIES, ELECTIONS AND POLICY MAKING

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 206	A	4	3	0	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Lisen Bashkurti lbashkurti@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	M.A. Aldo Bumçi abumci@epoka.edu.al , M.A. Aldo Bumçi, abumci@epoka.edu.al , Monday, 09.40-12.30
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	D 204
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	Ingrit Melani NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	Compulsory
Course Description:	This course aims to introduce students to political parties, party systems, and electoral systems. Theories of political parties and their inter-relation with democracy. Starting from the origin of parties, the party-based politics, up to the current transformation of political parties faced with new challenges. Moreover, a particular focus will be paid to inter-relation between party and electoral systems, how do they influence each other. The study will cover parties in consolidated as well as new emerging democracies, similarities and differences. This course if of micro-level in political sciences, penetrating inside the major political institutions like political parties.
Course Objectives:	Upon completion of the course students will be able to have a general understanding of the historical development and social base of political parties; the crucial functions that they perform in a democratic system; Understand and recognize the different categories of parties and party systems. Have knowledge of the different electoral systems and their impact on political systems and representation. Be able to analyze party system consolidation and the crucial role they play in former communist countries, taking Albania as a case study. The policy process and the role of political parties in formulating policy.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Functions of political parties
2	Social base and cleaveage
3	Party Systems
4	Majoritarian, Proportional and Mix Electoral Systems
5	Party Organization and Resources
6	Parties and Democratic Consolidation
7	Parties in Post-Communist Countries
8	Parties in Government
9	Parties and Policy Making
10	The Policy Process

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to the course
2	Functions of political parties and historic development
3	The Social Base of Political Parties and Party Types
4	Types of Party Systems and System Change
5	Electoral Systems
6	Parties Internal Organization and Resources
7	Parties, Electoral Campaigns and Voting Behavior
8	Parties in Government and in Opposition
9	Midterm Exam
10	Parties in lectoral Authoritarian Regimes
11	Political Parties in Post-Communist Countries
12	Albanian Political Party System
13	The Policy Process
14	Political Parties and Policy Outcomes

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s):	- Richard S. Katz and William J Crotty: Handbook of party politics, SAGE, 2005. - David M. Farrell: Electoral systems - A comparative introduction, Palgrave, 2011. - Scarrow, S.E., Webb, P.D. and Poguntke, T. Organizing Political Parties: Representation, Participation and Power. Oxford University Press, 2017.
Additional Literature:	- Lawrence LeDuc, Richard G. Niemi & Pippa Norris, Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in a Changing World, SAGE, 2017, - Additional literature will be provided each weak
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Acquire knowledge of the major functions and crucial role that political parties fulfill in a democratic system.
2	Acquire an understanding of the major historic events that provide the social base of political parties
3	Acquire knowledge about different types of parties and party systems.
4	Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of electoral systems and their impact on political parties and representation
5	Demonstrate knowledge about the internal functioning and resources of political parties
6	Demonstrate knowledge and critically evaluate the role of political parties in democratic consolidation especially in post-communist countries.
7	Demonstrate understanding of the crucial roles that parties play in government and opposition.
8	Parties in Electoral Authoritarian regimes
9	Parties and the Policy Process

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	5
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	3
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	5
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Presentation	3	5
Case Study	1	10
Final Exam	1	35
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)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	3	48
Mid-terms	1	5	5
Assignments	3	4	12
Final examination	1	9	9
Other	1	3	3
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

The course has fulfilled its objectives, students showed interest, active participation and informed discussions, and quality of work, and have acquired the expected knowledge.