European countries are among the most developed and democratic around the world. However, while they continue setting precedents in terms of democratic developments - for example with the creation of the European Union - many countries in the region face major domestic and international challenges.

This course provides analytical and evidence-based knowledge to understand European politics from a comparative perspective. It addresses a wide range of academic and policy-relevant issues such as: What are the key features of European political systems? How can European political regimes be classified? What fuels populism in Western democracies? How can democratic backsliding be prevented in countries such as Poland or Hungary? And what is the domestic (and regional) impact of existing conflicts such as the Russo-Ukrainian war?

This course covers these topics and many others using methods and techniques of comparative politics. Students completing this course will gain an understanding of European political developments and comparative political research methods. The main part of the course will be dedicated to the study of political systems in the region, with an emphasis on the comparative analysis of their core institutions, key political actors, and the political behaviour of voters. The second part will show how European integration, populism, democratic backsliding, and conflict challenge the fundamental democratic principles of European politics.