This course will offer the students a basic notion and an operative definition of some core concepts in the field of Political Science, paying attention to the prominent theories, typologies, approaches and authors. At the same time, a broad knowledge of the main theoretical debates in the Political Science will be provided.

Therefore, the general purpose of this course will be presenting some concepts that will be more deeply developed in other courses throughout the grades of Sociology and Political Science. In this sense, it means making the students acquire a Political Science interpretation of political phenomena.

Specific competencies

C-1.Understanding basic concepts and theoretical categories in the realm of Political Science

C-2. Acquiring a global view of continuity, change and evolution processes taking place in the contemporary political systems.

C-3. Analyzing current dynamics in the political systems

C-4. Applying theoretical knowledge to the interpretation of political phenomena.



Transversal competencies

C1CC01. Identifying, defining and analyzing social, political and economical drivers that explain social and political reality´s continuity and change.

C1CC06. Consulting secondary information from different sources (official institutions, libraries, internet) and elaborating conclusions and reports from them.

PART I: INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS.

1. Political Science.

2. Polity, poltics, policies. Political System.



PART II: THE MODERN STATE

3. The State: concept and historical evolution.

4. Distribution of political power inside the State

5. Supranational organizations. Post-statism?



PART III: DEMOCRACIES AND NON-DEMOCRACIES.

6. Non-democratic regimes.

7. Representative democracy. Poliarchies.

8. The evolution of representative democracies



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Lesson 1: Object of study. Political Science and other scientific fields. Historical evolution. Political scientists´professional profile.



Lesson 2: Politics. Power. Legitimacy. Political System. Other basic concepts.



Lesson 3: Definition of State. The Absolutist State. The Liberal State. Liberal State´s democratization and alternative states. Welfare State.



Lesson 4: Functional distribution. Territorial. distribution



Lesson 5: Confederations. The EU. Globalization proccess.



Lesson 6: Autoritarian and totalitarian regimes. Current non-democratic regimes.



Lesson 7: Concept of democracy. Poliarchies.



Lesson 8: Historical evolution of democracy. Representation and democracy. Governance

As well as presential work, the student will have the oportunity to use the subject´s web in the E-Gela Platform in order to get some useful materials for following the course and improving their knowledge.

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 80
  • Individual works (%): 20

Assessment criteria for the continuous assessment system:



Written exam: it will represent a variable percentage of 70% to 80% of the final mark, depending on what the lecturer in charge of teaching the subject states in the student's guide.

Assignments for the four-month period: these will represent a variable percentage of between 20% and 30% of the final mark, depending on what the lecturer in charge of teaching the subject states in the student's guide.

In order to pass the course, students must obtain a minimum of 4 points in the written exam that will take place at the end of the term and that will count for a total of 7 or 8 points out of 10 of the total of the course. The remaining two or three points will be calculated through the completion, via the course page on the E-Gela platform, of different tasks proposed in relation to the contents of the syllabus. Each of these assignments must be handed in within a specified period during the term.

The final mark will be the result of adding the points obtained in the written exam and in the assignments of the four-month period. This evaluation system will be the same for both the ordinary and extraordinary exams.



Assessment criteria for the final assessment system:



In accordance with art. 8.3 of the Regulatory Regulations on Student Assessment, students who wish to adhere to the final exam must submit in writing to the lecturer responsible for the subject the waiver of continuous assessment within the first nine weeks from the start of the four-month period.

If during the academic year the face-to-face activity should be suspended at the UPV/EHU, the percentages specified for the different tests will be maintained, although the format of the final exam may change, which will be communicated by the teaching staff via the E-Gela platform with due notice.

The students that have passed the tasks of the term will keep these qualifications for the extraordinary examination in June. Those that still have to pass any of those tasks will have the chance of delivering them before the day of the exam, under the same conditions applicable to the first term.

Basic bibliography

LARRINAGA, Ane y BARCENA, Iñaki. 2004. Politika eta Gizartea. Oinarrizko ikasgaiak. Bilbao, Udako Unibertsitatea.

SODARO, Michael. J. et al. 2007. Comparative politics: a global introduction. 3rd Edition. Madrid, McGraw-Hill.

SHIVELY, W. Phillips. 2011. power and choice. 13th Edition. McGraw-Hill

VALLÉS, Josep.M. 2010. Ciencia Política. Una introducción. Madrid, Ariel. 8ªEd.

In-depth bibliography

AGUILA, R. del (1997) Manual de Ciencia Política. Madrid: Trotta.
AGUILERA DE PRAT, Cesáreo R. y VILANOVA, Pere. 1987. Temas de Ciencia Política. Barcelona,PPV.
ALMOND, Gabriel et al. 1992. Diez textos básicos de Ciencia Política. Madrid, Ariel.
ARTETA, Aurelio; GARCÍA GUITÍAN, Elena; MÁIZ, Ramón (eds.). 2003. Teoría política: poder, moral, democracia. Madrid, Alianza.
BELLAMY, Richard y PALUMBO, Antonino (eds.). 2010. From government to governance. Burlington, USA, Ashgate.
CAMINAL, Miquel. 1997. Manual de Ciencia Política. Madrid, Tecnos
COLOMER, Josep M. 2008. Ciencia de la Política. Una introducción. Madrid, Ariel.
DAHL, Robert.1999. La democracia, una guía para los ciudadanos. Madrid: Taurus.
GARCÍA COTARELO, Ramón y PANIAGUA, José L. (eds.).1988.Introducción a la Ciencia Política. Madrid, UNED
MANIN, Bernard. 1997. Los principios del gobierno representativo. Madrid, Alianza.
PASQUINO, Gianfranco. 1992. Manual de Ciencia Política. Madrid, Alianza Universidad.
PASTOR, Manuel (ed.). 1988. Fundamentos de Ciencia Política. Madrid, McGraw Hill.
SARTORI, Giovanni. 1992. Elementos de teoría política. Madrid, Alianza Universidad.

Journals

Revista Española de Ciencia Política
Revista de Estudios Políticos.
Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas.
Inguruak. Revista Vasca de Sociología y Ciencia Política.

Web addresses

www.aecpa.es
www.ehu.es/cpvweb
www.ehu.es/euskobarometro
www.ipsaportal.net
www.idea.int
www.undp.org