This degree offers the opportunity to examine systematically recent dramatic changes in the political systems of Western and Eastern Europe. It combines theoretical and analytical questions with applications to subjects of direct relevance to contemporary government, and blends elements of a general grounding in political science with a specific empasis on Europe.
The course will appeal to students who intend to proceed to a research degree, to those who prefer to seek employment in government service at the supranational, national or subnational levels, and to those pursuing occupations such as journalism or teaching, as well as to the growing numbers employed in the private sector who have to deal with the European context. It is also appropriate to the needs of students from other European countries wishing to pursue postgraduate study abroad, the course is additionally focused on key debates in current policy analysis and policy design.
Autumn term core modules
The Making of Contemporary Europe is worth 30 credits, and examines the 'European project' of European integration in the widest sense - the coming together of political institutions, economies and societies, East and West, North and South. It covers the main themes of post-war European history and aims to situate these themes in both a comparative and an interdisciplinary perspective. The second core module in the autumn is Politics and Public Policy in Europe (30 credits), will encourage students to recognize the applied value of the political science to the practice of politics and policy making, and to appreciate the interaction between the two.
Spring term options
The spring term course offers students the chance to follow two specialist options in particular aspects of European politics. Each option is worth 30 credits, and students choose from a range of modules which takes in a broad sweep of themes relevant to the study of comparative politics in Western and Eastern Europe.
During the summer term, students design and execute a dissertation.
Further information on the structure of this MA course can be found from the current Handbook as follows: MACES MAEP Handbook SEI 2011-12 [DOC 143.00KB]
Jeta Bejtullahu, a student on the MAEP course, gives her perspective:
Teaching faculty associated with the Sussex MA in European Politics
Professor Paul Taggart (Head of Department)
Politcal parties in Western Europe, Euroscepticism, populism, comparative politics. Recent publications include: Populism (Open University, 1998); Opposing Europe? The Comparative Party Politics of Euroscepticism: Volumes 1 & 2 (Oxford, 2005, with Aleks Szczerbiak).
Professor Paul Webb
British and comparative parties, voting and public opinion, representative democracy. Recent publications include: The Presidentialization of Democracy: A Study in Comparative Politics (Oxford, 2005, with Thomas Poguntke); Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies (Oxford, 2002, with David Farrell and Ian Holliday); and The Modern British Party System (Sage, 2000). Paul Webb is editor of the journals Party Poltics and Representation.
Professor Shamit Saggar (Current convenor of the MAEP course)
Race and ethnicity in Britain, electoral politics, public policy. Recent publications include: Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market: Final Report (Cabinet Office, 2003); and various articles for journals including The Political Quarterly and Parliamentary Affairs.
Dr. Aleks Szczerbiak
Comparative central and east European party and electoral politics, contemporary Polish politics and society, the impact of the EU on national politics. Publications include: Poles Together? The Emergence and Development of Political Parties in Postcommunist Poland (Central European University Press, 2001); and Opposing Europe? The Comparative Party Politics of Euroscepticism: Volumes 1 and 2 (Oxford, 2005, with Paul Taggart).
Mr. Francis McGowan
Comparative public policy, industrial policy and regulation, Spanish politics. Publications include: The Emerging Industrial Structure of the Wider Europe (Routledge, 2004, with Radosevic and von Tunzelmann).
Dr. Tim Bale
Comparative European politics, comparative party politics, media and politics. Recent publications include: European Politics (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005); and various articles in Political Quarterly, West European Politics and Party Politics.
Dr. Dan Hough
German politics, regionalism and multi-level politics in Europe, comparative party politics. Publications include: The Fall and Rise of the PDS in Eastern Germany, 1989-2000 (Birmingham University Press, 2002); and Devolution and Electoral Politics: A Comparative Exploration (Manchester University Press, 2005, with Charlie Jeffery).
Dr. James Hampshire
Race, ethnicity, immigration policy and citizenship in the UK and Europe, contemporary political theory. Publications include: Citizenship and Belonging: Immigration and the Politics of Demographic Governance in Post-war Britain (Palgave Macmillan, 2005).