This course will strengthen theoretical understanding and empirical knowledge of European politics and international relations. Lectures cover a wide range of key thematic issues such as nation-building, ethnic minorities and immigration, capitalist development and the welfare state, political institutions, populism, as well as the process of regional integration and international relations. The focus of the course is twofold, as it combines political history with comparative politics. First, the themes covered will be analyzed with a strong historical focus for students to learn about specific periods of contemporary European history. Second, the course contextualizes and understands European experiences within broader theoretical and disciplinary debates. Each session will have a substantive focus on a crucial issue in political science, which will be discussed through European illustrations. The knowledge acquired in this course will help students conceptualize and critically evaluate contemporary political dynamics in Europe and elsewhere.