Pol-Econ of Electoral Politics

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

In recent decades, the social and economic landscapes of Western democracies have undergone profound changes. From economic re-structuring and global recessions to demographic change, these transformations have deeply impacted the politics, policy strategies, and political outcomes of today’s most affluent industrialized societies. This course uses the tools of comparative political economy to understand the political origins and consequences of these transformations. We will cover questions such as: how do de-industrialization, globalization, and the transition to knowledge societies re-shape party competition and electoral choices? What are the economic underpinnings of popular dissatisfaction with politics and mainstream party decline? How do rising income and wealth inequalities restructure political conflict? What explains preferences for redistribution and social policies in an age of rising immigration and aging populations and how do governments (struggle to) adequately respond to urgent contemporary challenges like climate change?