European countries are among the most developed and democratic in the world. Yet while they continue to set precedents in democratic innovation—including the creation of the European Union—many face significant domestic and international challenges.

This course provides analytical and evidence-based knowledge for understanding European politics from a comparative perspective. It addresses a wide range of academic and policy-relevant questions: What are the key features of European political systems, and how can they be classified? How has European integration shaped national politics, and what drives Euroscepticism? What fuels populism in Western democracies? How can democratic backsliding be prevented in countries like Poland and Hungary? What is the domestic and regional impact of ongoing conflicts such as the Russo-Ukrainian war?

Students will explore these topics using the methods and techniques of comparative politics. The course focuses first on political systems in the region, with comparative analysis of their core institutions, key political actors, and voting behaviour. The second part examines how European integration, populism, democratic backsliding, and ongoing conflict challenge the fundamental democratic principles of European politics.

Upon completion, students will have gained both an understanding of European political developments and familiarity with comparative political research methods.