Comparative Nordic Politics
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters Autumn
- Course code
- SAMPOL241
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
- Reading list
Course description
Objectives and Content
The objective of the course is to provide the student with a basic understanding of political structures, political actors and public policies in the Nordic countries. The central research question that will be explored is to what extent one can speak of a Nordic group of countries that stands out when compared to other European countries. Are the Nordic countries the best countries in the world to live in? These are peaceful and democratic nations, the countries have well developed welfare states with generous social policy, Nordic citizens have high trust in government and between each other, and their party systems are stable. However, the Nordic model has come under pressure and the Nordic countries face major challenges. In this course we will explore to what extent one can speak of a Nordic social-political model along a wide range of dimensions, including: State- and national building, parliaments, executives, subnational governments, indigenous governance (especially Sami people), political parties, party systems, trust, elections, voting, welfare state, social policy, Nordic cooperation and defense policies will also be covered in relation to EU and NATO.
Learning Outcomes
A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate knowledge of the key concepts of comparative political science: State- and national building, parliaments, executives, subnational governments, indigenous governance (especially Sami people), political parties, party systems, trust, elections, voting, welfare state, social policy, and international relations and defense.
Skills
- Learn to adopt a comparative political science approach whereby the Nordic countries are compared to each other (within-group comparison) as well as to other European countries (between-group comparison).
- Develop a capacity to understand and criticize different types of literatures using a variety of theoretical approaches and analytical tools.
- Learn how to systematically and rigorously apply a within-comparison and/or a between-comparison through writing a semester essay.
General competence
- Critically relate theories, concepts, and models to empirical examples and facts. Learn to develop and apply a comparative method.
- Develop a broad knowledge base on the Nordic countries.
- A capacity to build an argument based on a variety of sources, and to initiate a dialogue between those sources,
ECTS Credits
10 ECTS
Level of Study
Bachelor
Semester of Instruction
Autumn
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
Open for all students at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
None
Forms of Assessment
A maximum 4000-word essay with a deadline at the end of the semester.
The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught.
The exam can be submitted in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading Scale
A-F
Assessment Semester
Assessment in teaching semester
Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline (continuation exam). The application must be sent to studieveileder.isp@uib.no before the deadline for submission deadline. A maximum of 3 days' can be granted.
Reading List
The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester
Course Evaluation
All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education
Programme Committee
The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses.
Course Coordinator
The Department of Comparative Politics at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.
Course Administrator
The Department of Comparative Politics at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.