Directors
Peter Mair (EUI) and Thomas Poguntke (Bochum)
Location
European University Institute (EUI) and Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS), Florence, Italy.
Financial Support
Gratefully received from the European University Institute (EUI), the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), and the journal editors of Party Politics.
Target Groups
Students studying for research degrees (M.Phil/Ph.D.) in comparative politics, political parties or democracy. The maximum number of participants is 20.
Objectives and Requirements
The theme of the 2009 Summer School is 'Political Parties and European Democracy'. It will be taught by an international team of leading academics specializing in comparative studies of European politics, political parties, and democratic performance.
Our aim is to provide researchers with access to a wide range of core analytical perspectives in comparative European politics; to develop a multinational forum for researchers and senior specialists to critically discuss their research projects; and to encourage researchers to produce high-level research with strong potential for future publication.
The School consists of 2 weeks teaching, with around 70 hours class contact made up of roughly equal proportions of staff lectures, student presentations and seminar discussion. There will also be a series of group activities, and a special session in which leading journal editors offer practical advice on getting published.
Faculty for the 2009 School include Luciano Bardi (Pisa), Ingrid van Biezen (Birmingham), Kris Deschouwer (Brussels), Mark Franklin (EUI), Richard Katz (Johns Hopkins), Peter Mair (EUI), Thomas Poguntke (Bochum), Anne Rasmussen (Leiden), Paul Taggart (Sussex) and Alexander Trechsel (EUI).
Students are required to submit a 7000-8000 word paper before the start of the School, which will then be presented at one of the Sessions. The papers will be assessed by leading academics teaching at the School, with constructive feedback provided during the Sessions.
Students must attend all Sessions, and critically discuss the paper presentations of fellow students and senior specialists. Successful participation in the School will be fully accredited (10 ECTS or equivalent), and the journal Party Politics has kindly agreed to award a prize for the best paper presented.
Academic Programme
Programme
Applications
Applicants must email the completed Application Form and a 500-word abstract of their proposed paper to Fernando Casal before 1 June 2009
Applicants will be informed of the outcome by email as soon as possible. Those offered places must confirm their participation within 7-10 days, after which places may be offered to applicants on the reserve list
Fees
Full fees for the Summer School are €700 and cover tuition costs and 3-star hotel accommodation (breakfast included), lunches at the EUI, 2 group dinners in Florentine restaurants, and use of computing facilities
Students not using the hotel accommodation pay a reduced fee of €200
Details of how to pay will be emailed to all registered participants
Students can apply to the ECPR Molility Fund for partial reimbursement of their fees before its 1 April 2009 deadlines