POLITICAL SCIENCE

This is an inquiry-based course. The objective of this course is to provide students with the analytical tools to understand the functioning and transformations of contemporary political regimes. Students will deal with the main methods and theories of political science, the functioning and institutional setup of democracies and non-democratic regimes, the types of social movements and interest groups, and the implications of European integration for national political systems.

No academic prerequisite, but basic knowledge of political history is required.

Knowledge and understanding: students will have acquired a comprehensive theoretical knowledge of the core concepts of political science; the methods and theories of comparative politics; the institutional structures and functioning of consolidated democracies; the nature and functioning of non-democratic regimes; political participation and social movements; public policies and the policy-making; the relationship between European integration and the member states. During the course, such knowledge will be assessed across the board, combining discussion in workshops with formal exams (midterm and finals). Applying knowledge and understanding: students will get to apply such theoretical competencies to specific case-studies during frontal lectures. In particular, students will be able to distinguish the main models of democracy and types of non-democratic regime; analytically interpret the role of social movements and interest groups in consolidated democracies; examine the implications of each perspective of European integration. Making judgements: students will have developed the necessary skills to formulate independent judgements concerning the topics of the course. Specifically, students will be able to put forward arguments in a clear and structured manner, and to base them on empirical cases discussed during the course. Communication skills: students will have developed, also thanks to workshops and seminars, the necessary skills to express the main concepts of the course in a clear and exhaustive way, and to question specific aspects related to the topics of the course. At the end of the course, students will be able to address both practitioners and non-experts alike. Learning skills: students will have developed a good command of the core methods and theories of the course. Such command will be useful to pursue successive learning paths in full autonomy and independence. Students’ skills will be further stimulated through participation in workshops and seminars based on the reading and understanding of reference books.

The course has the following objectives: (1) introducing students to the concepts of political science, to the analysis of non-democratic regimes, to the study of democracies; (2) investigating the institutional structures of consolidated democracies; (3) discussing the role of social movements and interest groups in consolidated democracies; (4) examining the types and phases of public policies; identifying the transformations of consolidated democracies generated by the process of European integration.

- Cotta, M., Della Porta, D., Morlino, L., Scienza Politica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008. - S. Fabbrini, Politica comparata. Introduzione alle democrazie contemporanee, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2016. - Further required readings.

The teaching activity will be based on online and frontal lectures; workshops; and seminars with the teaching assistant.

Attendance and Tracking Compliant Status: Students who actively participate in at least 70% of the classes Not-Compliant Status: Students who do not meet the minimum threshold of 70% classroom attendance Exemption from compulsory attendance: Students with proven health issues, documented work commitments/internships, or competitive sports activities recognized by the University can ask to be exempted from mandatory attendance. Exemption’s requests are sent and assessed by the Graduate School. Students participating in an international mobility program (e.g., Double Degree, Erasmus) are also exempted from compulsory attendance. Assessment Methods Compliant Students (Attending): Continuous Assessment: midterm exam with multiple-choice quiz composed by 45 questions to complete in 40 minutes, on the program from week 1 to 5 (30%); Final Exam: written exam with 3 open-ended questions to complete in 1 hour, on the whole course program (70%). Students exempt from the attendance requirement or not compliant with the attendance threshold Final exam composed of a multiple-choice quiz of 60 questions to complete in 1 hour (30%) and 3 open-ended questions to complete in 1 hour (70%) on the whole course program. To pass the exam, it is mandatory to achieve a sufficient grade (18/30) in all parts of the assessment (midterm and final exam). Please note that the grade achieved at the completion of the final exam cannot be rejected.

Grade not lower than 29/30, high interest in the subject and active participation during the course. The instructors will accept up to 5 students for each academic year and will write reference letters only to students who graduated or are graduating with them.