PMCb1012 Elections and campaigning

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Otto Eibl, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Hrbková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Peter Spáč, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Otto Eibl, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Vlastimil Havlík, Ph.D.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course covers essential aspects of electoral systems, voting behavior, electoral participation, and the intricate components of electoral campaigns. Students will delve into the various elements of electoral systems, examining how they are structured and how they influence the political landscape. The course will provide an analytical framework for understanding different perspectives on voting behavior, shedding light on why people vote the way they do and the factors that drive electoral participation. A significant focus will be placed on the dynamics of electoral campaigns, including their strategic components, the effects of campaign messaging, and the role of media and technology.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will understand the role of electoral systems and the consequences of their various setting. Students will also be familiar with various perspectives on voting behaviour, and with the recent trends in political campaigning.
Syllabus
  • Lectures
  • 1. Introduction to Electoral Systems. The Principles of Majority
  • 2. Proportional and Mixed Systems
  • 3. (Un)Fairness of Electoral Rules
  • 4. Theories of voting behavior
  • 5. Psychology of voting behavior
  • 6. Voter turnout and participation
  • 7. Marketing and politics – an introduction
  • 8. Reading week
  • 9. Political campaigning in historical perspective
  • 10. Current trends in political campaigning
  • 11. Group presentations I
  • 12. Group presentations II
Literature
    required literature
  • The Routledge handbook of elections, voting behavior and public opinion. Edited by Justin Fisher - Edward Fieldhouse - Mark N. Franklin - Rachel Gibson -. First published. London: Routledge, 2018, 550 s. ISBN 9781138890404. info
  • COTTAM, Martha L., Elena MASTORS, Thomas PRESTON and Beth DIETZ. Introduction to political psychology. 3rd edition. and London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016, x, 522. ISBN 9781848726727. info
  • LEES-MARSHMENT, Jennifer. Political marketing : principles and applications. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2014, xiv, 273. ISBN 9780415632072. info
  • The politics of electoral systems. Edited by Michael Gallagher - Paul Mitchell. First published. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005, xxxii, 662. ISBN 9780199238675. info
  • Mixed-member electoral systems : the best of both worlds? Edited by Matthew Soberg Shugart - Martin P. Wattenberg. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, xxiv, 656. ISBN 019925768X. info
  • NORRIS, Pippa. A virtuous circle : political communications in postindustrial societies. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, xvii, 398. ISBN 0-521-79015-8. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and class discussion.
Assessment methods
Three position papers (5-6 pages each) Group presentation (15 minutes)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/PMCb1012