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2025-2026 / SPOL0100-1

Methodological issues in Political Science

Durée

15h Pr, 15h Lect.

Nombre de crédits

 Cours supplémentaires destinés aux étudiants d'échange - Erasmus (Faculté de Droit, de Sciences politique et de Criminologie)5 crédits 

Enseignant

Julien Pomarède

Langue(s) de l'unité d'enseignement

Langue anglaise

Organisation et évaluation

Enseignement au deuxième quadrimestre

Horaire

Horaire en ligne

Unités d'enseignement prérequises et corequises

Les unités prérequises ou corequises sont présentées au sein de chaque programme

Contenus de l'unité d'enseignement

The course explores some of the key theories in political science  (Behaviouralism, Rational choice theory, Institutionnalism and new institutionnalism, Constructivism, etc.)

Acquis d'apprentissage (objectifs d'apprentissage) de l'unité d'enseignement

The course focuses on several methodological and theoretical issues in Political Science.

The aim is to analyse in historical and comparative perspective key theoretical approaches both in Political Science - such as behaviouralism, institutionalism and neo-institutionalism, rational choice theory, interpretive theory, structuralism and post-structuralism - and in International Relations, such as realism, liberalism, post-marxism and constructivism.

Savoirs et compétences prérequis

The course will be taught entirely in English. Students will be required to read scientific articles, to carry out a team oral presentation.Therefore advanced notions of English are required.     

Activités d'apprentissage prévues et méthodes d'enseignement

Group-work and meetings with the supervisor/his assistant

Mode d'enseignement (présentiel, à distance, hybride)

Combinaison d'activités d'apprentissage en présentiel et en distanciel

Supports de cours, lectures obligatoires ou recommandées

Plate-forme(s) utilisée(s) pour les supports de cours :
- MyULiège


Informations complémentaires:

Recommended readings

David March and Gerry Stoker, Theory and Methods in Political Science, Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. 


Christopher Lamont, Research Methods in International Relations, London, SAGE Publication, 2015. 

Peter Hall and Rosemary Taylor, Political Science and the Three Institutionnalisms, Political Studies, XILV, 1996: 936-957. 

Stephen Walt, International Relations: One World, Many Theories, Foreign Policy, 1998: 29-45. 

Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkink, The Constructivist Research Program in International Relations and Comparative Politics, American Review of Political Science, 2001: 391-416. 

Andrew Bennett and Colin Elman, Case study methods in the International Relations Subfield, Comparative Political Studies, 40(2), 2007: 179-195. 

 

Modalités d'évaluation et critères

Travail à rendre - rapport


Informations complémentaires:

The course prioritizes understanding over substance. It means that the objective is not to provide an exhaustive and unilateral panorama of political science issues, but rather to focus on the essentials.

 
Assessment is based on a written work to be completed in groups (2 to 4 students). Students may choose one reading portfolios - available on MyULiège - which cover different theories in the field of political science. Based on these readings, students will write a paper between 6-8 pages long, which aims to explore and discuss the theoretical school of the portfolio. The work is guided and structured by questions to be answered. This format will enable students to delve deeper into an political science theories while putting it into perspective with other schools of thought. 


Students are expected to choose their portfolio and form their group during the introductory session.

Students will work mainly independently. Two meetings will structure the course. The first is an exchange on the direction the work will take. Students should have read the texts in their portfolio and thought about the direction they want their work to take. The second meeting will consist of a discussion of a more advanced version of the work. Students should have thought about the different elements that will make up their work.

The course is composed of three sessions (dates to be confirmed in due time).

Dissertation format: 6-8 pages (single space); Times new Roman; references and bibliography (excluded from the 8 pages). Dealine: May 15, 2026.

For the references and the bibliography, see the Harvard Style guide: https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-style/

Artificial intelligence:

The use of AI applications such as Chat GPT is allowed must be mentioned in the final work, in the form of a footnote for example. Its use must be reasonable and will be systematically checked using detection tools. Excessive use will be considered plagiarism in two situations:
- work based on whole sentences or paragraphs generated by the AI
- portions of texts inspired by the use of AI that are not referenced (articles, books, etc.).

Stage(s)

Remarques organisationnelles et modifications principales apportées au cours

Wednesdays, 1pm-3pm

Contacts

Dr. Julien Pomarède

Associate Professor in International Politics, Department of Polical Science

Bât. B31 International Politics
Quartier Agora
place des Orateurs 3
4000 Liège 1
Belgique

office R.77, level 0
email: julien.pomarede@uliege.be

Association d'un ou plusieurs MOOCs