German Politics

Germany is the most populous democracy in the European Union and one of the major players in European politics. Nevertheless, German politics with its specific features and complex structures can be a conundrum of historic, cultural and constitutional peculiarities. Join us to explore in depth basics and peculiarities of German Politics. The course aims to contextualize German Politics within a framwork of contemporary history, institutional and comparative perspectives, decision making processes and Germany's perspectives on Europe and the world.

The main topics will be contemporary German history, trends and issues in German politics, social structure of modern Germany (welfare state and the question of growing inequality), German political culture, the representative process (elections and voting behaviour, political parties, intereset groups, federalism), the legislative process, and Germany's role in international politics (Germany in the EU, governing the Euro crisis, German foreign policy).
All classes will be held in English language and include lectures, group discussiobs and field activities.

Course leader

Institute of Political Science and Sociology, Wuerzburg University Dipl.-Kfm. Stefan Schwaneck, M.A. Dr. Thomas Leuerer

Target group

You are eligible if you
- are a current university student, graduate or undergraduate
- are an international student (German students are not eligible)
- have proof of English laguage requirements (level B2 or higher)

Course aim

By the end of the course students will be able to critically analyse contemporary German politics, have a solid foundation of knowledge about institutional and constitutional structures and constructively engage in academic discourses on German issues.