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2021/2022

Spanish and Catalan Political System

Code: 103104 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2501933 Journalism OT 4 0
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Oriol Bartomeus Bayes
Email:
Oriol.Bartomeus@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

The student must have taken and passed the subject SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE.
										
											It is also assumed that the student regularly reads general press newspapers and has an interest in current political affairs and in understanding the origins and current debates about our political system.

Objectives and Contextualisation

This course will focus on the main elements of the Spanish political system, and Catalan. We will work on the background, the defining factors, the composition and functioning of political systems. Therefore, we will deal with the social and historical conditions that have shaped these political systems, describe the constitutional and statutory institutions and their functioning, expose and evaluate the role of the main political actors, define the main features of political culture and take stock of results achieved.
This work will allow us to achieve the ability to interpret its evolution over time and to assess its performance. We will work on the transition pacts and the main elements of the current political system, and we will analyze thirty years later, and in the midst of a change of era, what is their degree of permanence, what are the factors of crisis and the focus of debate, what is sustained and what is not at present.

Competences

  • Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the modern world and its recent historic development in terms of social, economic, political and cultural aspects.
  • Develop critical thinking and reasoning and be able to relay them effectively in Catalan, Spanish and a third language.
  • Rigorously apply scientific thinking.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Develop critical thinking and reasoning and be able to relay them effectively in Catalan, Spanish and a third language.
  2. Recognise the basic premises and characteristics of comparative world politics.
  3. Rigorously apply scientific thinking.

Content

1. Historical background on the current Spanish political system. The nineteenth century Spanish
2. The transition to democracy
3. Characteristics and effects of the 1978 Constitution
4. Territorial organization: the state of the Autonomies
5. Elections and parties 1977-2019
6. Electoral System and its possible reform
7. Electoral behavior and political culture
8. Generational replacement and system transformation
										
											9. The independentist process in Catalonia

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies

Methodology

This subject has 6 ECTS credits, ie a total of 150 hours of dedication by the student (25 hours per credit).
 
It will have three session formats:
 
·         Theory classes
·         Reading seminars
·         Dynamics of student participation
 
First of all, the theoretical contents of the subject will be worked in the classes, on the one hand, in a master class format and, on the other hand, with sessions and dynamics led and participated by the students.
 
Secondly, during the course, there will be reading seminars in which the comprehension of some texts that the students will have had to read previously will be worked and evaluated.
 
The proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions. 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Class working on theoretical content 17 0.68
Seminars and reading tests 17 0.68
Theorical sessions 17 0.68
Type: Supervised      
Preparation on class activities on theoretical content 28 1.12
Type: Autonomous      
Autonomous work on theoretical contents 41 1.64
Reading preparation 30 1.2

Assessment

 

Students will be entitled to the revaluation of the subject. They should present a minimum of activities that equals two-thirds of the total grading. 

The student who performs any irregularity (copy, plagiarism, identity theft...) will be qualified with 0 in this assignment or exam. In case there are several irregularities, the final grade of the subject will be 0. 

The proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions. 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Semester final work 15% 0 0 3, 1, 2
Seminars 40% 0 0 3, 1, 2
Writing essay 2 15% 0 0 3, 1
Writing essay 3 15% 0 0 3, 1
Writting essay 1 15% 0 0 3, 1, 2

Bibliography

AJA, E. (2014) Estado autonómico y reforma federal. Alianza

AJA, E. i SOLÉ TURA, J. (1977) Constituciones y períodos constituyentes en España (1808-1936). Siglo XXI

AMAT, J. (2015) El llarg procés. Tusquets

ANDUIZA, E. i BOSCH, A. (2004) Comportamiento político y electoral. Ariel

BARTOMEUS, O. (2016) El terratrèmol silenciós. Eumo

BOSCH, A. (2004) Guía del sistema electoral. UAB

COTARELO, R. (ed.) (1992).- Transición polítia y consolidación democrática. CIS

EQUPIO PIEDRAS DE PAPEL (2015) Aragón es nuestro Ohio. El hombre del tres

F. ALTERNATIVAS.- Informes sobre la democracia

MOTABES, J. i MARTÍNEZ, A. (2019) Gobierno y política en España. Tirant lo Blanch

PANEBIANCO, A. (2009) Modelos de partido. Alianza

RENIU, M. (ed.) (2012).- El sistema político español. Huygens

TOHARIA J.J. (ed.) et al. (2011).- Pulso de España. Un informe sociológico. Fundación Ortega-Marañón. 

TORCAL, M. Et al. (2005).- España: sociedad y política en perspectiva comparada. Tirant lo Blanch

Software

Excel will be required on the electoral system and polls analysis units