Grundkurs: Introduction to Integration [30201]

Dienstag 10:00 - 12:00 Uhr | Daniel Saldivia Gonzatti

European integration has had major consequences for European societies, politics, and policy-making. The lecture gives a thorough overview of the history of the integration process and the current state of the European Union (EU). Specifically, the students will get to know the basic institutional features of the EU and the major theoretical approaches used to explain the level and scope of integration. Also, the lecture puts a spotlight on debates over the politicization of Europe, the decline of citizens’ support, and the multiple crises faced by the EU in recent years. The students will advance their understanding of the political and social implications of European integration as an important background for their further studies of contemporary European societies.

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Hauptseminar: The Politics of Agenda-Setting in Europe [30202]

Dienstag 14:00 - 16:00 Uhr | Daniel Saldivia Gonzatti

This seminar introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of agenda-setting studies, incorporating perspectives from political sociology, political communication, comparative politics, and with a focus on Europe. In the initial sessions, we will explore the agenda-setting theory, the concept of "problem definition" in political communication, and other related theoretical frameworks. We will then engage with classic and recent empirical research exploring agenda-setting in the media, in policy making, in party competition, in parliament, and in public debates around protest and violence. The seminar also features two data lab sessions with R to introduce empirical, quantitative approaches to the study of agenda-setting (no prior experience with R is required). Through discussions and analyses, students will gain insights into current research trends and deepen their understanding of the political dynamics of agenda-setting in Europe.

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Hauptseminar: The Transformation of West European Political Arenas [30205]

Dienstag 14:00 - 16:00 Uhr | Alexander Pries

In recent decades, Western European democracies have undergone profound political transformations. Established party families have lost significant portions of their traditional voter bases and ideological profile. Additionally, two waves of new party families have emerged. Beginning in the late 1960s, new social movements began emphasizing issues such as environmental protection, climate change, and minority rights. Later, these were brought into the political arena by party families commonly referred to as the “New Left” or “Green Parties.” More recently, a second wave has materialized with the rise of Populist Radical Right parties, driven by increasing salience of issues such as immigration and nationalism. Several political crises—including the financial, migration, and pandemic crises—alongside long-term developments such as educational expansion, globalization, and European integration have accompanied and shaped these shifts.

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Hauptseminar: From Question to Answer: Analysing Survey Data with R [30221]

Dienstag 12:00 - 14:00 Uhr | Alexander Pries

This seminar provides an applied introduction to key topics in the analysis of survey data. Theoretically, students are introduced to sampling techniques and the design of survey instruments, with a focus on how these shape survey data analysis. Key questions include: What are the different types of survey questions, and when should we use them? Consequently, how do we handle survey weights, missing values, and different response types in the analysis?