As part of an effort to provide greater services to APSA members, standing groups were invited to collect model syllabi which APSA members could use when preparing to teach their own courses. At the 2001 business meeting of the European Politics and Society Group, a committee consisting of Paulette Kurzer of the University of Arizona and Leonard Ray of the Louisiana State University was charged with soliciting and compiling this syllabus collection. Many of our colleagues in the European Politics and Society group generously offered their syllabi for this effort.

The syllabi which were offered covered a broad range of European topics, and pedagogical techniques. The most common course topics covered Western Europe and the European Union, but there were a number of courses on Eastern Europe, or Europe in general. Some of the syllabi follow a basic lecture and reading format, while others included a substantial research requirement. There was a remarkable consistency across the European Union courses, with virtually every syllabus involving an in class simulation of EU decision making. The resulting collection is suggestive of the thematic and pedagogic diversity of the field today, and should provide a useful starting point for our younger colleagues as they begin their careers, and even established professors may find a few fresh ideas here.

GENERAL EUROPEAN COURSES

European Politics
Marijke Breuning, Truman State University

"This course provides an introduction to European politics, paying attention to the political institutions and politics of both Western and Eastern European states, as well as the institutions and policies of the European Union (EU)." Course requirements include exams, a research paper, and a presentation.

Political Science and the Politics of Democracy
Ronald Holzhacker, University College Utrecht

Holzhaker describes this course as "a critical look at democracy and the democratization process in contemporary Europe." It covers both historical developments in Western Europe and the contemporary situation in Eastern Europe. Requirements include an analysis of an article from an academic journal, an interview with a political leader, and reactions to three films, as well as the traditional final exam.

Comparative European Welfare States
Elizabeth Klages, University of Minnesota

"The focus of this course will be to discover how this all-encompassing concept, the welfare state, varies across time and distance in its implementation across Europe."

THE EUROPEAN UNION

European Union Politics
Andreas Sobisch, John Carroll University

This course introduces students to the history of the EU, the role of the main institutions, and EU politics and policies. After following a lecture format, the course closes with an in class simulation of European Union policymaking.

Negotiating EU-Enlargement – An Exercise in Multi-Level Policy-Making
Christian Tuschhoff, Harvard University

This upper division course employs an extensive simulation of the negotiation of EU accession agreements with the Czech Republic and Poland. Requirements include a set of written position papers and participation in face to face and online negotiations (includes copy of simulation).

WESTERN EUROPE

Conflicts and Issues in European Politics
Dietlind Stolle, University of Pittsburgh

This is a thematic course on Western Europe with a special emphasis on political institutions and political change in the last twenty years or so." Requirements include a map quiz, short writing assignments, and an exam.

Introduction to Comparative Government: Europe
Jytte Klausen, Brandeis University

This introductory course focuses on Western Europe, with a brief discussion of Eastern Europe, Russia, and the EU. Requirements include three examinations.

The Political Development of Western Europe
Peter A. Hall, Harvard University

Hall's course stresses political development, asking "what can be learned about democratization and the processes conditioning political change from the historical experience of four European nations, Britain, France, Germany and Italy?" Requirements include two short papers and an exam.

Western European Politics
G. B. Powell, University of Rochester

This graduate level course introduces students to important themes in comparative politics including "the emergence of democracy, political culture, institutions, party systems and political processes, [and] the European Union." Course requirements include presentations, exams, and/or a research paper.

EASETERN EUROPE

Politics and Government of East Central Europe
William A Clark, Louisiana State University

This course covers post communist politics in the larger nations of East Central Europe as well as the breakup of Yugoslavia. Requirements include exams and a research paper.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC COURSES

Russian Politics & Government
William A Clark, Louisiana State University

This course seeks to provide a detailed introduction to politics and government in contemporary Russia." And focuses on domestic politics, with some coverage of foreign policy. Requirements include two exams and a research paper.

German Politics and Society
Louise K. Davidson-Schmich, University of Miami

This course "explores the development of democracy in East and West Germany since the nation's defeat in World War II." Course requirements include student presentations an exam, and a research paper.

The French Fifth Republic: Politics, Policies and Institutions
Martin Schain, New York University

"This course is a systematic study of French politics, political institutions and public policies under the Fifth Republic." Requirements include a take home exam and a research paper.