This course covers the development of political systems in contemporary Spain and Portugal, focusing on their recent history and their institutions. We will analyze the transition from dictatorship to democracy, political parties, social movements and the economic impact of power relations, using cinema and the media as sources of knowledge and information. Students will choose some topics for class discussions and research papers.
Prerequisites:
Interest in Spanish and Portuguese society, culture and economy.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Have detailed knowledge of political systems in Spain and Portugal, developing the ability to critically analyze the main events and vicissitudes occurred in those two countries.
• Comprehend the social and economic consequences of political dynamics in order to better understand the surrounding environment.
• Acquire basic abilities for discussing, criticizing and analyzing.
Method of presentation:
Lectures, videos, slides, the study of current problems, class discussions, analysis of the reality through a field study activity, approach to press news, etc. The field study activity will consist of a visit to a Spanish and/or Portuguese institution, where students will have the opportunity to talk to a public representative (a politician or a judge, for ex.).
Required work and form of assessment:
• Mid-term exam: 20%. Essay question on the topics studied in class.
• Final exam: 20%. Essay question on the topics studied in class.
• Class participation: 30%. Active participation in class discussions.
• Research paper: 30%. Students will have to write an essay (10 pages, simple interlineal spacing) on a Spanish or Portuguese political topic, to be chosen among those studied in class.
content:
Week 1. Lesson I. Basic indicators to understand Spain and Portugal. 1. Territory. 2. Population. 3. Economy. REQUIRED READINGS: Official website of the Spanish Government.
Day 1. Basic indicators to understand Spain.
Day 2. Basic indicators to understand Portugal.
Week 2. Lesson II. History of Spanish and Portuguese political systems. 1. Antecedents. 2. 19th century. 3. 20th century. REQUIRED READINGS: Official website of the Portuguese Government.
Day 3. History of Spanish and Portuguese political systems until 19th century.
Day 4. 20th century.
Week 3. Lesson III. Transition to democracy and the Spanish and Portuguese Constitutions. 1. Transition. 2. Moncloa pacts. 3. Constitutions. REQUIRED READINGS: Moncloa pacts. Main articles of the Spanish and Portuguese Constitutions.
Day 5. Transition to democracy in Spain.
Day 6. Carnation Revolution in Portugal.
Week 4. Lesson IV. Legislative power and laws in Spain and Portugal. 1. Spain. 2. Portugal. 3. Laws. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España. Madrid: Alianza, 1996 (chapter on laws).
Day 7. Legislative power in Spain.
Day 8. Legislative power in Portugal.
Week 5. Lesson V. Government in Spain and Portugal. 1. Monarchy and Republic. 2. Spanish Government. 3. Portuguese Government. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 9. Government in Spain.
Day 10. Government in Portugal.
Week 6. Preparation for mid-term exam and seminars.
Week 7. Lesson VI. Judicial power in Spain and Portugal. 1. Spain. 2. Portugal. 3. Supranational European Courts. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 11. Judicial power in Spain.
Day 12. Judicial power in Portugal.
Week 8. Lesson VII. Decentralization in Spain and Portugal. 1. Decentralization in Spain. 2. Decentralization in Portugal. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 13. Decentralization in Spain.
Day 14. Decentralization in Portugal.
Week 9. Lesson VIII. Political parties and social movements in Spain and Portugal. 1. Spanish political parties. 2. Portuguese political parties. 3. Social movements. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 15. Political parties in Spain.
Day 16. Political parties in Portugal.
Week 10. Lesson IX. Election system in Spain and Portugal. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 17. Spanish election system.
Day 18. Portuguese election system.
Week 11. Lesson X. Future prospects for economy and politics in Spain and Portugal.
Day 19. Tendency of Spanish economy.
Day 20. Tendency of Portuguese economy.
Week 12. Preparation for final exam and student presentations.
Required readings:
GARCÍA MORILLO, Joaquín. La Democracia en España. Madrid: Alianza, 1996.
Various readings from internet sources (see weeks 1-3).
Recommended readings:
Daily reading of press news and information searching on the Internet about political systems of Spain and Portugal.
This course covers the development of political systems in contemporary Spain and Portugal, focusing on their recent history and their institutions. We will analyze the transition from dictatorship to democracy, political parties, social movements and the economic impact of power relations, using cinema and the media as sources of knowledge and information. Students will choose some topics for class discussions and research papers.
Interest in Spanish and Portuguese society, culture and economy.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Have detailed knowledge of political systems in Spain and Portugal, developing the ability to critically analyze the main events and vicissitudes occurred in those two countries.
• Comprehend the social and economic consequences of political dynamics in order to better understand the surrounding environment.
• Acquire basic abilities for discussing, criticizing and analyzing.
Lectures, videos, slides, the study of current problems, class discussions, analysis of the reality through a field study activity, approach to press news, etc. The field study activity will consist of a visit to a Spanish and/or Portuguese institution, where students will have the opportunity to talk to a public representative (a politician or a judge, for ex.).
• Mid-term exam: 20%. Essay question on the topics studied in class.
• Final exam: 20%. Essay question on the topics studied in class.
• Class participation: 30%. Active participation in class discussions.
• Research paper: 30%. Students will have to write an essay (10 pages, simple interlineal spacing) on a Spanish or Portuguese political topic, to be chosen among those studied in class.
Week 1. Lesson I. Basic indicators to understand Spain and Portugal. 1. Territory. 2. Population. 3. Economy. REQUIRED READINGS: Official website of the Spanish Government.
Day 1. Basic indicators to understand Spain.
Day 2. Basic indicators to understand Portugal.
Week 2. Lesson II. History of Spanish and Portuguese political systems. 1. Antecedents. 2. 19th century. 3. 20th century. REQUIRED READINGS: Official website of the Portuguese Government.
Day 3. History of Spanish and Portuguese political systems until 19th century.
Day 4. 20th century.
Week 3. Lesson III. Transition to democracy and the Spanish and Portuguese Constitutions. 1. Transition. 2. Moncloa pacts. 3. Constitutions. REQUIRED READINGS: Moncloa pacts. Main articles of the Spanish and Portuguese Constitutions.
Day 5. Transition to democracy in Spain.
Day 6. Carnation Revolution in Portugal.
Week 4. Lesson IV. Legislative power and laws in Spain and Portugal. 1. Spain. 2. Portugal. 3. Laws. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España. Madrid: Alianza, 1996 (chapter on laws).
Day 7. Legislative power in Spain.
Day 8. Legislative power in Portugal.
Week 5. Lesson V. Government in Spain and Portugal. 1. Monarchy and Republic. 2. Spanish Government. 3. Portuguese Government. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 9. Government in Spain.
Day 10. Government in Portugal.
Week 6. Preparation for mid-term exam and seminars.
Week 7. Lesson VI. Judicial power in Spain and Portugal. 1. Spain. 2. Portugal. 3. Supranational European Courts. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 11. Judicial power in Spain.
Day 12. Judicial power in Portugal.
Week 8. Lesson VII. Decentralization in Spain and Portugal. 1. Decentralization in Spain. 2. Decentralization in Portugal. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 13. Decentralization in Spain.
Day 14. Decentralization in Portugal.
Week 9. Lesson VIII. Political parties and social movements in Spain and Portugal. 1. Spanish political parties. 2. Portuguese political parties. 3. Social movements. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 15. Political parties in Spain.
Day 16. Political parties in Portugal.
Week 10. Lesson IX. Election system in Spain and Portugal. REQUIRED READINGS: Joaquín GARCÍA MORILLO. La Democracia en España.
Day 17. Spanish election system.
Day 18. Portuguese election system.
Week 11. Lesson X. Future prospects for economy and politics in Spain and Portugal.
Day 19. Tendency of Spanish economy.
Day 20. Tendency of Portuguese economy.
Week 12. Preparation for final exam and student presentations.
GARCÍA MORILLO, Joaquín. La Democracia en España. Madrid: Alianza, 1996.
Various readings from internet sources (see weeks 1-3).
Daily reading of press news and information searching on the Internet about political systems of Spain and Portugal.