This course on the political system in Spain and the Basque Country pursues a threefold objective. First, it provides students with basic knowledge of the political structures and political dynamics in Spain and the Basque Country. The second goal is to discuss in greater depth some of the main concepts and analytical instruments of political science, with which students have already become familiar in earlier courses, and to apply them to the study of the Spanish and Basque political system. Thirdly, a comparative perspective is provided so as to analyse the specificities and commonalities of the Basque and Spanish political systems vis-à-vis other democracies.

At the end of the course, students

1. Will be able to identify the main components of a political system and explain how they interact.

2. Will be able to describe the evolution and dynamics of the political system in Spain and the Basque Country.

3. Will be able to explain the main features of the political system in Spain and the Basque Country.

4. Will be able to assess the territorial organization of Spain and discuss the ongoing debate on it.

C5. Classify political positions on the model of State and their reflection in the Spanish Constitution.

Topic 1. State building and the constitution making process in Spain.

Topic 2. Evolution of the political process and main characteristics of the Spanish model of democracy from a comparative perspective.

Topic 3. The territorial model of the 'State of Autonomies'.

Topic 4. The construction of the Basque institutional model

Topic 5. Main characteristics and institutions of the Basque self-government.

Topic 6. Evolution of the Basque political process.

The distribution of credits in this course is: lectures comprise 5.3 ECTS, and seminars 0.7. Nevertheless, during the lectures the active participation of students will be encouraged, particularly at a time in which the Spanish political system is undergoing a multidimensional process of change.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 50
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 50

The course follows a continuous evaluation system, which combines two assessment tools:

- Completion of individual or group assignments: 50% of the final mark.

- Three multiple-choice tests during the semester: 50% of the final mark.



Students have the right to quit the continuous evaluation system and opt for a final assessment system. Those who would like to choose this second option should inform the lecturer in written form about this. This should be done during the first nine weeks of the semester.

The final assessment system consists of:

- A written examination (50% of the final mark).

- Completion of individual assignments or multiple-choice tests (50% of the final mark).



In the final assessment system, failure to take the final exam will result in a 'no show' mark. Students under the continuous evaluation system who would like to get a ‘no show’ mark should inform the lecturer about this in written form. This should be done no later than one month before the end of the semester.



Academic Dishonesty Policy

Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations. One special grave case is plagiarism, which means using another person's words, ideas or work without citation, hence, pretending that it is your own. Cases of academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade (0 points) for the assignment where the case of dishonesty is detected.



In case in-person classes are suspended, the continuous evaluation system will remain unchanged. As regards the final assessment system, an oral examination will substitute for the written one. Thus, in case of online classes, the final evaluation system will consist of:

- An oral examination (50% of the final mark).

- Completion of individual assignments or multiple-choice tests (50% of the final mark).

The same conditions as the ones described above for the ordinary exam call apply to the retake.

Compulsory readings will be announced in due course and made available in eGela.

Basic bibliography

BLAS, Asier (2012): Modelos de democracia en las Comunidades Autónomas españolas. Zaragoza: Fundación Manuel Giménez.

LIJPHART, Arend, 2012 (2nd edition / 1999 1st edition), Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries. New Haven: Yale University Press.

MURO, Diego and Ignacio LAGO, 2020, The Oxford Handbook of Spanish Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

NOVO, Ainhoa (2010): La excepcionalidad del modelo federal foral vasco. Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch.

IBARRA, Pedro eta IRUJO, Xabier (2011): Basque Political Systems. Reno: Center for Basque Studies: University of Nevada, Reno.

In-depth bibliography

ALCÁNTARA, Manuel y MARTÍNEZ, Antonia, (2001): Política y Gobierno en España. Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch.
ALONSO, A. eta LOIS GONZALEZ, M. (2104): Ciencia Política con Perspectiva de género. Madrid: Akal.
BLAS, A. (2015): "The Spanish state’s response to ethno-cultural diversity in Spain", in M. Martinova, D. Peterson, R. Ignatiev y N. Madariaga, N. (eds.), Peoples, Identities and Regions: Spain, Russia and the Challenges of the Multi-Ethnic State. Moscú: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pp. 43-65.
COLOMER, Josep Mª (2001): Instituciones políticas. Barcelona: Ariel.
DEL AGUILA, Rafael (1982): "La transición a la democracia en España: reforma, ruptura y consenso", en Revista de Estudios Políticos 25: 101-127.
ÁLVAREZ JUNCO, José, 2016, Dioses útiles. Naciones y nacionalismos. Barcelona: Galaxia Gutenberg.
LASAGABASTER, I. (2006): Una introducción histórica a las instituciones políticas vascas. Manu Robles-Arangiz Institutua.
LETAMENDIA, F., AHEDO, I. y ZELAIA, M. -coor.- (2008): Democracia, ciudadanía y territorialidad. Bilbao: IVAP.
LINZ, J. J. (1999): "Democracia, multinacionalismo y federalismo", Revista Española de Ciencia Política 1 (1): 7-40.
REQUEJO, F. y NAGEL, (2009): Descentralització, asimetries i processos de resimetrització a Europa, Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Autonòmics.
TUSELL, J., LAMO DE ESPINOSA, E. y PARDO, R. -eds.- (1996): Entre dos siglos: reflexiones sobre la democracia española, Madrid: Alianza.

Journals

Revista Española de Ciencia Política http://www.aecpa.es/revista-espanola-de-ciencia-politica-envio-de-manuscritos/news.393/
Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas http://www.reis.cis.es/REIS/html/index.html
Inguruak http://www.inguruak.eus/index.php/inguruak
Revista de Estudios Políticos http://www.cepc.gob.es/publicaciones/revistas/revistaselectronicas?IDR=3

For additional references, students are strongly encouraged to consult Scopus and Web of Science, as well as the database of the university's library, which are being constantly updated.

Web addresses

Senado: http://www.senado.es/web/index.html
Congreso de los Diputados: http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso
Gobierno español: http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/Paginas/index.aspx
Politikon: http://politikon.es/
Parlamento Vasco: http://www.legebiltzarra.eus/portal/eu
Gobierno Vasco: http://www.euskadi.eus/gobierno-vasco/inicio/