Teaching
Research Seminar "Comparative Democratization: Latin America and Africa", MA-level research seminar (2-terms) in comparative politics (with Jonathan van Eerd), University of Zurich, 2011-12.
Research Seminar: “Party Systems and Democratization in Latin America and Africa”, MA-level research seminar (2-terms) in comparative politics (with Jonathan van Eerd), University of Zurich, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Lecture: “Introduction to the theories of comparative politics“, BA-course, University of Zurich, Spring 2008.
Seminar: “Party Systems and Democratization in Latin America and Africa”, together with Timotheos Frey, University of Zurich, held in Winter 2006-7 and in Fall 2007.
Research seminars: Teaching and supervision of student research –
1-year seminars together with Hanspeter Kriesi and others:
“Value Change in Switzerland” (2007-8)
“The Performance of Democracies” (2006-7)
“Electoral Systems and Party Systems in Comparative Perspective” (2005-6)
“The Political Relevance of Social Capital” (2004-5)
“The 2003 National Elections in Switzerland” (2003-4)
“National Political Change in Borderless Spaces” (2002-3)
Supervision of student master theses:
20 theses supervised since 2002
Teaching statement
In the past years, my teaching at the University of Zurich has focused on democratization and on the role of party systems in this process. Most of the courses I have been teaching are research seminars that span two terms and form the core of the teaching in comparative politics at the MA-level at the department. While the first term is generally dedicated to lectures and student presentations, the second term is devoted to supervising student research papers that empirically apply the theories and methods encountered. In my courses, I make extensive use of online learning facilities that encorage discussion among students before class, which contributes to making the ensuing discussions more stimulating.
I have also held an introductory lecture for BA students to the theories of comparative politics, and I have supervised MA theses on various issues in comparative politics since 2002.
Since 2002, I have also co-taught a number of research seminars at the MA-level on a variety of themes jointly with Hanspeter Kriesi and other collaborators at the chair for comparative politics at the University of Zurich.