PIM99-Comparative Elections and Voting Behaviour

Module Provider: Graduate Institute for Politics and International Studies
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Christoph Arndt
Email: c.arndt@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is a graduate level seminar in comparative political behaviour. We will cover a variety ofÌýtopics dealing with comparative political behaviour, such as the formation of partisan identification,Ìýpublic opinion formation, the decision to vote, and the role ofÌýmacroeconomic conditions on electionÌýoutcomes. We explore these topics using data and evidence from established democracies and newly democratized countries as well as authoritarian countries. Moreover, we examine the substantive topics with a particular focus on the UK context to understand the development of British voting behaviour over time.

Aims:

The student will gain a broad and detailed knowledge of classical theories on voting behaviourÌýas well as newer approaches to political behaviour in both established democracies and newlyÌýdemocratized states, including electoral authoritarian regimes.

The readings will introduce you to the various methodological techniques, including case studies,

quantitative analysis, and agent-based modelling, that are used to test the empirical expectations of these theories. The goal of this course is to provide a solid foundation upon which you can build forÌýcomprehensive understanding and independent research.

To take this course, students should have a basic knowledge in qualitative or quantitative analyses.

• The student will be able to understand, compare and critique various theories, methods and facts covered in the course.


• The student will get extensive knowledge about voting behaviour in different contexts, its change over time and its placement in comparative perspective.


• The student will acquire competencies to analyse voting behaviour from different theoretical perspectives and be able to assess their applicability to a given research question.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Two Research Notes (2x15 %, total 30% of final mark): Students will write two analyses of readings from two different weeks with a word limit of 1.000 words each. The primary goal of the papers is not to earn grades but to provide you with an opportunity to react on the readings and develop critical thinking and writing skills. Feel free to use these papers as an aid in class discussion. Students will email us these papers by noon one day before the class.

A Research Paper (50%) The research paper should discuss the theoretical motivation for the proposed research, citing the relevant literature (at least 20 sources) to which the research seeks to contribute. The word limit is 5.000 words. It should clearly explain the original theoretical argument made and explicitly posit the key testable hypotheses derived from this theory. The paper should also discuss the dependent variable(s) and central explanatory variables that would be employed in an empirical investiga tion of these hypotheses.

In addition to submitting a written version, students will make a 12–15-minute presentation of their research paper to the class at the mini-conference before. The presentation will be marked (10 % of final mark) and is also thought as opportunity to get feedback and suggestions for the research paper.

Students will produce three discussion points about the readings for 3-4 selected topics. These questions are intended to im prove the understanding of the material and inspire discussion, so they should be the most interesting questions or arguments that the student has identified based on the week's readings.

Additional outcomes:

From this module, we also expect students to obtain some of the important skills such as presentation skills, group discussion, and data analyses with a statistical programme.Ìý

Outline content:

The module covers theoretical foundations about the comparative electoral behaviour, position-based voting behaviour, performance-based voting behaviour, and some basic methodological training. When we explore these substantive topics, we will use a wide range of literature from different perspectives and regions.Ìý

Global context:

Although the substantive topics are covered from established and western democracies, the module extends its boundary of regional specifications by including wide ranges of non-OECD countries from Global South. Furthermore, the module explores some of the key topics focusing on electoral authoritarian regimes to examine the dynamic of elections in these newly democratized countries.Ìý

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students are asked to read for all seminars and should expect to be asked to contribute to seminar discussions at any time. For each class students will produce three discussion points about the readings. The discussion leader (see below) will arrange the talking points in a manner appropriate for their outline for discussing the readings and the students will read them out loud. The talking points should be in the form of a short paragraph outlining the question or argument. Students will em ail the seminar leader these papers by noon on the day before the class.

A mini conference will be organised where students present drafts of their research papers.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

There is no formal examination for this module.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will complete a 5.000 words research paper (50%). Students will also make a 12–15-minute presentation of their research paper to the class at the mini-conference. The presentation will be marked (10 %).

Two research notes (30%):Ìý Students will write two research notes of 1.000 words each based on two week's topics and reading. The week for this assignment will be allocated in the first seminar.

Students will also deliver discussion points for 3-4 selected seminars. The discussion points will be marked and count 10 % of the final mark.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: