Elections and Voters

The course aim is to present the basic knowledge about elections and voters. During the classes we will focus on the basic concepts of paradigms of voting behavior to facilitate understanding of the sociological reasons, psychological motivations and circumstances that influence individuals to engage in electoral process.

Political and electoral participation.

Theoretical approaches to voting behaviour.

Social, psychological and institutional determinants

of electoral choice.

Elections at different territorial levels.

Electoral systems in democratic regime.

Electoral systems and representation.

Turnout in elections.

Dynamics of electoral competition.

The role of the media in shaping voting behaviour.

H.D. Klingemann, D.J. Russell (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Behavior, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2007.

E.S. Herron, R.J. Pekkanen, M.S. Shugart, The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2018.

As a result of classes, the student should be able to:

- Highlight the factors affecting the political activity of society in different countries,

- Diagnose the causes of low electoral participation of citizens,

- Explain the causes and consequences - for the stability and legitimacy of a democratic regime - political passivity, apathy, political alienation and anomie,

As a result of course, the student should be able to:

- Apply knowledge of the political attitudes and behavior to predict the political process, including in particular the electoral behavior,

- Animate the action, aimed at increasing the participation in election

- Explain and predict the causes and effects of functioning

After completing the course the student should:

- Be ready for self or group of design activities aimed at enhancing the desired effects in the socio-political life and to mitigate adverse

- Be aware of the complexity and multiplicity of factors affecting the political involvement of citizens,

Before the class students have to complete all assigned readings to take part in discussion about the research they have read.

Course grade will be determined by a combination of the following factors:

- class participation in discussions (acctivity assesment),

- discussion papers

- 1 presentation on voting behaviour in chosen state (project).

Regular attendance is expected. More than 2 unexcused absences need to be complete during office hours.

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