STV1510 - Nordic politics
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Choose semester
Course content
This course gives an overview of politics in Nordic countries, focusing on state structures, parliaments, party systems, voters and cleavages, political culture, regional and local politics, as well as welfare state regimes. Students also learn about the Nordic countries relations to the EU and the international community. The main focus is on the three Scandinavian countries, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but Finland and Iceland are also included in some of the topics.
The five Nordic countries are sometimes presented as a particular political type with a uniform set of political institutions, practices and solutions. In this course "Nordic models" are discussed and questioned. This is done firstly by surveying the degree of political uniformity across the five Nordic countries, and, secondly, by comparing these political profiles to other European states.
Learning outcome
The course aims at providing students with knowledge of various topics within politics in the Nordic countries. This is done both by in-depth knowledge about each of the Nordic countries and by comparing the countries.
Knowledge
Students will:
- Acquire basic knowledge about many aspects of politics in the Nordic countries, including similarities and differences between them.
- Learn about various theories and models that are relevant for analysing politics in the Nordic countries.
Skills
Students will:
- Be able to analyse and discuss alternative interpretations of the Nordic political systems.
- Be able to discuss empirical patterns in the various Nordic countries in relation to models in political science that are developed for these countries in particular and also various other models and typologies.
Competences
Students will:
- Enhance their capabilities to compare political systems and processes in general.
- Enhance their capabilities to evaluate concrete political knowledge about political systems in relation to models used within political science.
Admission
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Higher Education Entrance Qualification.
Teaching
Ten lectures will be given. There will also be a total of seven seminars (participation is optional). For more information on the structure of the seminars, see the Seminar guidelines.
Examination
A four hour final written exam.
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
The 4-hour written exam will be given in English only. The students can choose whether they will answer the exam questions in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Explanations and appeals
- Explanation of grades - deadline and processing time
- Appeal about grades
- Complaint about formal exam errors
Ask for explanation of your grade in this course
Ask for explanation of your grade on the postponed exam
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
If you wish to withdraw from the exam you must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the deadline. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.
Evaluation
Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.