Learning outcomes of the curricular unit

To understand the history and role of political parties in the 21st century. To unveil the symbiotic relation between parties and democracy, as democracy is necessary to safeguard the existence and proper functioning of parties and, at the same time, there is no democracy without parties and political pluralism. To grasp the constitutional status of political parties in Portugal. To develop the dichotomy between neutral/procedural democracy versus militant/defensive democracy. Hence, to study the question of the legitimacy of the ban on political parties, in particular, through the study of German, Israeli, Greek, Spanish and Turkish examples.

Syllabus

1. Political parties in the 21st century
1.1. Brief history of political parties
1.2. The role of political parties
1.3. Political parties and democratic consolidation
1.4. Political parties and democratic backsliding (special focus on populism and extremism)

2. The Portuguese example: the 1976 Portuguese Constitution and the Political Parties Law

3. Democracy and its enemies
3.1. Neutral or procedural democracy
3.2. Militant or defensive democracy
3.3. The importance of measuring the quality of democracy

4. The ban on political parties:
4.1. Example from Germany
4.2. Example from Israel
4.3. Example from Greece
4.4. Example from Spain
4.5. Example from Turkey
4.6. The Guidelines of the Venice Commission and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights regarding outlawing political parties