00895 - Political Science (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide students with a foundational understanding of the key methods, concepts, categories, and models of Political Science. By the end of the course, students will be able to describe and interpret political phenomena, particularly the functioning and transformation of political-institutional systems, both democratic and non-democratic. They will also possess the analytical tools necessary to decode political discourse in democratic countries and to relate it to the major themes addressed by Political Science. Furthermore, they will acquire the linguistic and logical skills required to effectively communicate the results of their theoretical and empirical analyses to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Course contents

The course is divided into three parts, each of which concludes with an exam.

The first two parts provide an introductory overview of the main themes and concepts in the field, while the third adopts a seminar format, focusing in greater depth on a specific topic and requiring active student participation in class discussions.

The structure of the sessions and the assigned readings are outlined in the programme.

In the first part of the course, we will examine basic concepts in Political Science, including politics, political regimes, and forms of political participation. We will review the long-term processes that led to the emergence of democratic political regimes and their defining characteristics. We will also examine democratic actors and institutions from a comparative perspective, including political parties and party systems, electoral systems, parliaments, and governments.

In the second part of the course, we will consider the political systems of major European countries, the United States, and Russia, with particular attention to forms of political participation, electoral competition, the structure of parliaments, legislative processes, government formation and stability, and territorial institutions.

In the third part of the course, our focus will shift to democratic erosion and autocratisation. We will explore the extent to which perceptions of declining democratic quality correspond to empirical realities, as well as the possible causes and long-term implications of these processes. A number of cases will be examined in detail. These sessions will require active participation from students in class discussions.

The detailed list of sessions and readings will be made available at the beginning of the course on Virtuale.

Readings/Bibliography

For the first and second parts of the course, we will use the following textbook: Salvatore Vassallo (ed.) (2026). Sistemi Politici Comparati. 3rd edition. Bologna: Il Mulino.

For the third part of the course, we will discuss a number of scientific journal articles (in English) on democratic erosion and autocratisation. These readings will be made available on Perusall and Virtuale.

Teaching methods

The first two modules will consist of lectures, each devoted to a specific topic.

The third module will consist of seminar sessions primarily focused on the discussion of assigned readings by students.

Students are strongly encouraged (in the first two modules) and required (in the third module) to complete the assigned readings before each session.

In the third module, we will use Perusall, a collaborative reading tool. The assigned readings will be made available on the platform, and students will be required to access and complete the related tasks before each session. Students will be able to annotate and comment on the readings, highlight unclear points, request clarification, and respond to questions or comments from their peers. Further guidelines on the use of the platform will be provided in due course.

Slides and teaching materials will be made available on Virtuale after each session.

Assessment methods

Attending students

To qualify as an attending student, regular class attendance is mandatory.

The exams at the end of each module will take place in person through the EOL platform. The assessment for the first two modules will consist of multiple-choice exams aimed at assessing students’ knowledge of the textbook contents and the issues discussed in class.

The assessment for the third module will be based on two elements: engagement with the readings assigned for each session (through Perusall and in-class discussion) and a written assignment (a short essay) on the topics covered in the module. The assessment will aim to evaluate students’ understanding of the concepts presented in class, as well as their ability to present and connect different themes in a logical and coherent manner.

The final course grade will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the three modules. 

 

Non-attending students

The assessment will be based on a comprehensive written exam consisting of a series of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, administered through EOL. The exam aims to assess students’ understanding of the course content and will focus on the readings assigned for the three modules.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea L. P. Pirro

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