POLS 316 - Comparative Parties and Elections (4)

Modern democratic government is unthinkable save in terms of parties. This course explores the role political parties play in the democratic process. It examines party formation, organization, influence, and electoral competition across varying institutional, economic, and cultural contexts. By comparing the processes used in democracies from different regions, the course seeks to evaluate how institutional arrangements affect the ability of parties to translate citizens’ preferences into policy outcomes. See department chair.