Organizations and Political Regimes

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The seminar uses continuous evaluation: presentation of content, clarification of doubts and tasks assigned  by the professors; presentation and discussion of comments and tasks by students.

Learning Outcomes

This class will provide students with an understanding and critical interpretation of the political architecture of the contemporary world and the major issues that arise therein at the level of international society and the national and sub-national framework.  It is intended, therefore, to reconstruct and analyze the structures, agents and behaviors of political communities, both in terms of existing political regimes in the nation-state and in terms of international organizations and geopolitical groups that helped structure the systems of contemporary international relations (SDN, UN, EEC/EU, etc.).

Students will develop research skills in political history; understanding of academic and ideological assumptions underlying the various historiographical readings; identification of their ethical and epistemological, theoretical and methodological options; evaluation of the quality of historical speeches.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

A. International Systems in the contemporary era

1. From the 19^th century European concert to the postwar organizations

2. The evolution of world order after 1945: bipolarity and the Cold War, international crises and regional conflicts. Tensions and changes in the XXI century.

3. The international organization of Europe after 1945: Security architecture and structures of cooperation and integration.

 

B. Political regimes and civil society

1. Conceptual approach and typology

2. Western historical process: from monarchical liberalism to representative democracy (principles, mechanisms, institutions, political actors, civic associations and public opinions)

3. Great debates of our time: education and health, growth and employment, the environment and sustainability, Europe and the Nation-State

4. The political system of the EU (process, organization and the model)

5. From the Portuguese liberal monarchy political system to democracy (dynamic, continuities and ruptures).

Head Lecturer(s)

Paula Alexandra Fernandes Borges dos Santos

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Common and mandatory elements: attendance and active participation in thematic debates in class, bibliographic and documentary research. Optional elements: preparation of critical reviews, preparation and presentation of topics, organization of discussions and study visits, among others.: 100.0%

Bibliography

FREIRE, André (org.) – O Sistema Político Português Séculos XIX e XX. Coimbra: Almedina, 2012

HOCQ, Christian – Dictionnaire d'histoire politique du XXe siècle. Paris: Ellipses Marketing, 2005

JUDT, Tony – Pós-Guerra, História da Europa desde 1945. Lisboa: Edições 70, 2006

MILZA, Pierre – Les relations internationales, 2 tomes (1945-1973; de 1973 à nos jours). Paris: Hachette, 1996, 2006

SILVA, António Martins – Sistema Político da União Europeia: arquitetura, funcionamento e teorização. Coimbra, Almedina, 2013.