166-025 Conflict & Corruption in Western Europe

Usually 25 points of first year politics, or first year European studies, see Prerequisites.

This subject is an introduction to conflict, control and corruption in the contemporary democratic state in western Europe in a comparative context. It explores boundaries of government and the issue of corruption in Europe as well as the conflict resolution models and practice of consociational democracy. In particular, it examines ethnicity, racism and the rise of right wing extremism in western Europe. Students will be introduced to the Northern Ireland conflict and alternative solutions including the Good Friday Agreement and consociationalism. Students who complete the subject should have an understanding of concepts of consociationalism, corruption, forms of democracy and party politics, through research into the particular cases of the Netherlands and Northern Ireland, UK, Italy, France and Germany.