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The introductory seminar aims to systematically develop knowledge of structural processes and policy-making. Under the guiding question "Who actually makes what decision? (Rudzio 2005), the seminar examines the actions of political actors in central institutions by means of application-oriented negotiation and decision-making processes. On the basis of current case examples, important political outcomes arround the federal elections of 2025 will be discussed: key policy decisions, coalition break-up, vote of confidence, formation of a government...
Five thematic clusters are in the focus of the seminar:
Thematic cluster (1): How do parties decide? (with lists of candidates and policies, election campaigns, voters' choices, protests...)
Thematic cluster (2): How does the Bundestag decide? (work in the parliamentary groups, government and opposition...)
Thematic cluster (3): How do coalition governments decide? (Coalition negotiations, forming a government, coalition committee, ending a coalition...)
Thematic cluster (4): How do federal and state interests decide? (Federal Council, cooperation and blockades)
Thematic cluster (5): How do interest groups decide? (lobbying, economic actors and civil society, strategies, influence)
Further topics can be added as desired by the students (policy and policy change, structural characteristics of government, party financing):
On the basis of these clusters, students learn what room for manoeuvre political actors (can) have in institutional structures and how they have actually used it. They will be able to identify opportunities and obstacles in order to analyse political events.
The seminar deepens the knowledge and skills acquired in the module lecture and prepares students for advanced academic work in applied policy research through their own practice-oriented coursework.
Requirements: Regular participation, reading, presentation, written summary |
