Every five years, citizens in all EU member states elect the European Parliament. It is the only directly elected transnational parliament in the world, yet these elections are often treated as "second-order" contests fought over national rather than European issues. The 2024 elections took place in the shadow of Russia's war against Ukraine and brought significant gains for right-wing and far-right parties. What do these results tell us about European democracy, and why do they matter for how the EU is governed?
This seminar introduces students to the study of European Parliament elections. We analyze the functioning and process of the elections step by step. We begin with the institutional framework and electoral rules and move on to turnout. We then look at European parties and parliamentary groups, the rise of the right, and the issues that shaped party competition. The final sessions cover campaigns and media coverage, questions of representation, and the aftermath of the vote, including the Spitzenkandidaten process and the formation of the new Commission.
The instructional language of the course is English. Instead of a traditional term paper, the course uses alternative, practice-oriented assessment formats that ask students to apply what they have learned to real-world political contexts. |
