27914 - Analysis of the Political Speech and Public Policies (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students learn theories, concepts and methods of discourse analysis applied to discourses produced in the public sphere and the instituional domain. They learn to produce empirical analysis of policy discourses and to evaluate – on the basis of recent theories on the “argumentative turn” of policy analysis – the relevance of discourse and frames for the design and implementation of public policies.

Course contents

Topic: The discursive turn in policy analysis

1. Public discourse and discourse theory

2. Public discourses produced by th ewelfare state

3. The structuring of policy discourse: constructing issues, defining policy frames, producing narratives

4. Communicating welfare policies: common sense, social representations, collective imagination

5. Case-studies: discourses on family, aliens, mental health and the city embedded in social policies.

Readings/Bibliography

N.Bosco, Dilemmi del welfare – Politiche assistenziali e comunicazione pubblica, Milano, Guerini e Associati, 2002.

G. Chiaretti, M. Rampazi, C. Sebastiani (a cura di), Conversazioni, storie, discorsi, Roma, Carocci, 2001 (brani scelti).

A reading list will be made available during lessons.

Teaching methods

There are two lessons a week: during the first (2 hours) theoretical contents will be focused while during the second (4 hours) students will have the chance to propose their paper project and discussion will focus on methodology.

Attendance the first week is vey important since course contents and methods will be presented in detail.

Assessment methods

Students are required to produce a paper (10 pages) analysing one or more documents concerning a social policy topic. Erasmus and foreign students may use documents (welfare laws, local welfare regulations, etc.)  from their home country.

Students missing more than 30% of lessons will have to pass an oral examnation as well.

Teaching tools

Papers and articles will be handed out during lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Sebastiani