COMPARATIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

PSIR544

Course Code: PSIR544
Semester: -
Theory+Practice: 3 + 0
ECTS: 10

Course Type

Elective Course

Course Level

Master's Degree With Thesis

Year of Study

Semester

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Assistant Professor Erdem Damar

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

Analyze the concept of local government within different administrative systems.
Interpret the European Charter of Local Self-Government and relate it to practical exam-ples.
Evaluate the local government structures of different countries in a comparative perspec-tive.
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Turkey?s local government system through comparison with European models.
Analyze the administrative, political, and legal dynamics affecting local democracy.

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

No recommended optional programme components.

Course Description

This course aims to analyze the theoretical foundations, administrative structures, and democratic functioning of local governments from a comparative perspective. It focuses on key concepts such as decentralization, subsidiarity, governance, and multi-level governance. Using the European Charter of Local Self-Government as a reference, the course examines local government systems in countries such as France, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Turkey. By the end of the course, students are expected to develop the ability to compare local governments both theoretically and empirically.

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	What is Local Government? Concepts and Typologies
2^nd Week	Decentralization, Subsidiarity, and Governance
3^rd Week	The European Charter of Local Self-Government
4^th Week	Local Democracy and Citizen Participation
5^th Week	France: From Centralization to Decentralization
6^th Week	United Kingdom: Local Government and Governance
7^th Week	Germany and Switzerland: Federalism and Local Elections
8^th Week	Italy and Spain: Regional Reforms
9^th Week	Evolution of Local Government in Turkey
10^th Week	Local Elections and Metropolitan Reforms in Turkey
11^th Week	Trusteeship Policy and Local Democracy
12^th Week	Comparative Governance Indicators
13^th Week	Student Presentations
14^th Week	Final Evaluation - What Does Turkey Share with Europe?

Recommended or Required Reading

Goldsmith, Michael, and Edward C. Page, eds. 2010. Changing Government Relations in Eu-rope: From Localism to Intergovernmentalism. London: Routledge.
Denters, Bas, and Lawrence E. Rose. 2005. Comparing Local Governance: Trends and Devel-opments. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Eryılmaz, Bilal. 2020. Kamu Yönetimi. 10. Baskı. İstanbul: Okuyan Us Yayın.
Ladner, Andreas, Nicolas Keuffer, and Harald Baldersheim. 2016. Patterns of Local Autonomy in Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Keating, Michael. 1998. The New Regionalism in Western Europe: Territorial Restructuring and Political Change. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Stoker, Gerry. 2004. Transforming Local Governance: From Thatcherism to New Labour. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
OECD. 2020. Public Governance Review: Local Government. Paris: OECD Publishing.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Discussion
Presentation

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	20
Assignment	10	40
Total(%)		60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		40
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	1.5	1.5
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work	14	6	84
Preparation for Final exam	1	60	60
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	40	40
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam	1	1.5	1.5
Homework	10	10	100
Total Work Load			329
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			10.96
ECTS Credit of the Course			10

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

	LO1	LO2	LO3	LO4	LO5
K1	X	X	X	X	X
K2
K3	X	X	X		X
K4	X		X	X
K5
K6		X		X
K7			X
K8