The project/module “Political Institutions and Systems in Europe: a Comparison and Experience for Ukraine” (No. 101126702) is prepared and will be implemented over the course of three years at the Department of Political Science at Ivan Franko Lviv National University with the support of the European Union under the “Erasmus+” Program in the field of “Jean Monnet for Higher Education.” The project coordinator is Dr. Vitaliy Lytvyn, a professor of the Department of Political Science.
The Jean Monnet Module “Political Institutions and Systems in Europe: a Comparison and Experience for Ukraine” aims to study and compare knowledge about key (national, supranational, and subnational) political institutions and systems in European countries/EU. It also seeks to raise awareness about them among students, educators, professionals, policymakers, civil servants, media, and civil society in Ukraine. This is particularly relevant after Ukraine gained candidate status for EU membership, as the experience of Western and Central-Eastern European countries can contribute to Ukraine’s progress in European integration and further democratization. Additionally, it is essential in practice because political institutions and systems “matter,” and their choices lead to different outcomes that can be observed through comparison.
The Department of Political Science and Lviv University as a whole recognize the importance and diversity of European political institutions and systems. Therefore, they are committed to acquiring new knowledge in this field and disseminating it among students and other interested parties, particularly for practical implementation in Ukraine.
The study and comparison of European political institutions and systems within target groups will primarily occur through the development, enhancement, and modification of two educational courses starting from September 1, 2023. The first annual course, “Comparative Politics: Political Institutions and Systems in Western European Countries” (lecturer: Dr. Anatoliy Romanyuk), is prepared and will be implemented among fourth-year undergraduate students majoring in Political Science. In turn, the second annual course, “Comparative Analysis of Political Institutions and Systems in Central-Eastern European Countries” (lecturer: Dr. Vitaliy Lytvyn), is organized for first-year master’s students majoring in Political Science.
The project will also pay attention to a multifunctional platform for research, debates, and interaction among scholars, students, authorities, and the civil sector. This will include annual conferences, seminars, meetings, competitions, publications, student societies, and more, organized by the Department of Political Science at Ivan Franko Lviv National University and supported by the Center for Political Studies in Lviv. For example, in November 2023, the eighth international scientific conference of the Department of Political Science, “Political Parties and Elections: Ukrainian and Global Practices,” is scheduled, focusing on the theme of “Institutional, Party, and Electoral Factors of the Political Process in Ukraine and other European countries in times of war and uncertainty: National, Supranational, and Subnational levels.” All relevant information about the project and its activities will be showcased on appropriate internet resources and promoted among the target groups.