IR212 Politics in Europe
IR212 Politics in Europe
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Apr 04, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Jahja Muhasilović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
• To provide full knowledge of particular European and Pan-European politics • To get the understanding of European identity • Present the most important issue of European state politics • Identify the role of major actors and institutions dealing with the European politics • To offer an overview of the most important theories, issues as well as recent developments in the European continent. • To improve skills of students in the area of analysis and presentation of European topics • Develop interpersonal and team working skills
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
• Paul Kubicek, European Politics, 2nd ed., London: Routledge, 2017. • Inglehart, Ronald, Norris, Pippa. (2016). Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash Compendium available from the copy shop in Building A • McCormick, John. (2002). Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. New York: Palgrave • Mark S. Bell (2024) The Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Weapons: Evaluating Familiar Insights, Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 7:2, 494-508 • Klaus D. et. al. (2023) The Russian invasion of Ukraine: implications for politics, territory and governance, Territory, Politics, Governance, 11:8, 1519-1536,
Additional Literature
Checkel, J. T., & Katzenstein, P. J. (2009). European Identity (Contemporary European Politics). Cambridge University Press. Pagden, A. (2002). The idea of Europe: From Antiquity to the European Union.Teaching Methods
Lectures
Seminars
Quiz
Student presentations
Video material and discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course introduction | |
| 2 | What is Europe? - Political and economic developments in West and East | Kubicek 1+2 |
| 3 | European integration | Kubicek 3+4 |
| 4 | Parliaments and electoral systems | Kubicek 5 |
| 5 | Executive authority in Europe | Kubicek 6 |
| 6 | Legal structures and judicial systems | Kubicek 7 |
| 7 | Political parties and elections | Kubicek 8 |
| 8 | Midterm exam | |
| 9 | Political culture and political behaviour | Kubicek 9 |
| 10 | Economic issues in Europe | Kubicek 10 |
| 11 | Brexit and Populism | Inglehart and Pippa |
| 12 | Quiz; The EU and the World, European security and foreign policy | McCormick, 193-219 and Kubicek 12 |
| 13 | Immigration and multiculturalism/Brexit continued | Kubicek 11 |
| 14 | Post-Trump Europe, Ukraine War | Bell (2024) and Klaus D. (2023) |
| 15 | Review and discussion |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR212.1 | Course | Wednesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.1 FBA Graduate Seminar Room | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 17:00 | B F1.7 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Attendance and Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
36 hours ⏳ (12 week × 3 h)
Individual Learning
84 hours ⏳ (12 week × 7 h)
Midterm exam
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
Final exam
18 hours ⏳ (1 week × 18 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR212] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Apr 04, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR212 | Politics in Europe | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | IR101 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Jahja Muhasilović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| jmuhasilovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | • To provide full knowledge of particular European and Pan-European politics • To get the understanding of European identity • Present the most important issue of European state politics • Identify the role of major actors and institutions dealing with the European politics • To offer an overview of the most important theories, issues as well as recent developments in the European continent. • To improve skills of students in the area of analysis and presentation of European topics • Develop interpersonal and team working skills |
|||||||||
| Textbook | • Paul Kubicek, European Politics, 2nd ed., London: Routledge, 2017. • Inglehart, Ronald, Norris, Pippa. (2016). Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash Compendium available from the copy shop in Building A • McCormick, John. (2002). Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. New York: Palgrave • Mark S. Bell (2024) The Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Weapons: Evaluating Familiar Insights, Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 7:2, 494-508 • Klaus D. et. al. (2023) The Russian invasion of Ukraine: implications for politics, territory and governance, Territory, Politics, Governance, 11:8, 1519-1536, | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Lectures, seminars, quiz, student presentations, video material and discussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | What is Europe? - Political and economic developments in West and East | Kubicek 1+2 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | European integration | Kubicek 3+4 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Parliaments and electoral systems | Kubicek 5 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Executive authority in Europe | Kubicek 6 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Legal structures and judicial systems | Kubicek 7 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Political parties and elections | Kubicek 8 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Political culture and political behaviour | Kubicek 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Economic issues in Europe | Kubicek 10 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Brexit and Populism | Inglehart and Pippa | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Quiz; The EU and the World, European security and foreign policy | McCormick, 193-219 and Kubicek 12 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Immigration and multiculturalism/Brexit continued | Kubicek 11 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Post-Trump Europe, Ukraine War | Bell (2024) and Klaus D. (2023) | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and discussion | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm | 1 | 30 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 20 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 10 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 12 | 36 | Individual Learning | 7 | 12 | 84 | |||
| Midterm exam | 12 | 1 | 12 | Final exam | 18 | 1 | 18 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 28/04/2026 | |||||||||