The course is an introduction to the politics of modern Europe. Europe provides an ideal setting to explore the central concepts and debates of comparative politics in industrialized countries. The course introduces the wide variety of political institutions, political economics and cultures existing in contemporary Europe and probes the question how such discrepancies might affect political outcomes and the possibility to coordinate EU policy. Several central topics in comparative politics, including political parties, elections, the welfare state, civil society and corruption will be introduces with application to modern European democracies. Graded on A-F basis only.