ADM3103 POLITICAL PART.AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
| Course Code: | 3103103 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | Political Science and Public Adm. |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. NİLAY YAVUZ |
| Offered Semester: | Fall Semesters. |
Course Objectives
This course surveys the literature on political participation and electoral systems. After briefly recapping the universe of representation theories and electoral systems in the world, we will delve into the multiple strands of the literature on voting theories. We will then turn to political parties and political regimes, both of which are crucial to understand theories of political participation. We will finally focus on alternative notions and forms of political participation in today’s world, including polities and politics in the age of populism, the rise of social movements and civil society in the world, and old and new forms of citizenship.
All in all, the course is expected to equip students with both the classical and contemporary studies of political participation. We will dovetail theoretical readings with empirical pieces so as to better get the sense of the course material. There are many weeks in which we will focus on the Turkish case (most with a comparative angle) to increase the immersion of the students to the course material. At the end of the course, given that the students put sufficient effort to the course, the students are expected to have a much better understanding of political participation and electoral systems, both theoretically and empirically.
Course Content
This course aims to familiarize the students with basic issues of political participation. A basic distinction is made between conventional means of participation such as political parties, interest and pressure groups, elections and voting on the one hand, and unconventional means of participation such as terrorism, new social movements, post-modernity and cyber democracy on the other.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Explain key theories of representation and describe various electoral systems used globally.
- Critically evaluate voting theories and understand factors influencing voter behavior.
- Assess the role of political parties and regimes in shaping political participation and electoral outcomes.
- Identify and analyze alternative forms of political participation, including the impact of populism, social movements, and civil society.
- Conduct comparative analysis of political participation and electoral systems, with a specific focus on the Turkish case within a global context.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Ability to reach the information they need in their daily lives, and to interpret it | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Being in command of the basic concepts of law | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Understanding the political, economical, and social transformations that occur in a wide range of areas including local and international levels | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Defining and solving problems encountered in political, social, and economic life | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Being conscious, effective and rational citizens who can comprehend the transformations taking place in Turkey and in the world today | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Being professionals who can operate as productive participants in any public organization | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Having the knowledge about how public organizations function and how their decision making processes and mechanisms work | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Developing original solutions to the problems faced in relation to their own area of interest | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Critical thinking ability | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Being in command of the interdisciplinary approaches | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution