00895 - Political Science (A-E)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has a basic knowledge of the main approaches developed within the discipline for the analysis of political phenomena; s/he knows the conceptual and theoretical tools for the study and understanding of political processes and institutions; - and is able to analyze the main aspects of the functioning of political systems from a comparative perspective.

Course contents

The course provides the tools to interpret and analyze politics. After a methodological introduction aimed at illustrating research methods and strategies, in the first part of the course we will explore topics such as the birth and transformation of the state and nations and the differences between democratic and authoritarian political regimes. The second part will focus on actors and processes of representation in democratic polities: parties, voters, electoral competition, interest groups. The third part will analyze institutions in democratic regimes, addressing the analysis of the following themes: parliaments, governments, bureaucracies, international politics.

Readings/Bibliography

P. Grilli di Cortona et al. Capire la Politica, Torino, Utet, 2014, 2 edizione.

Further material will be provided in class

Teaching methods

The course is structured in 30 lessons of two hours each. Tools will be inserted to complement the frontal teaching.

Assessment methods

There will be a mid-term written exam and a written exam at the end of the course.

Each part of the exam consists of a written test comprising 8 mutliple choice questions (1 point each correct answer), and 6 of which with an open answer (max 4 points each, down to 0 for missing/totally inadequate response).

About 10-12 students who obtained the best marks in the first test, have the faculty to replace the second test with a paper on the forthcoming European Election, to be presented in class. The paper will have to work on material given by the instructor, which includes topic analysed in the second part of the course

The final grade consists of the average of the marks obtained in the two tests. Students who obtain a score greater than or equal to 18 in the first test can take the second test.

For students who have not taken (or not passed) the two tests, ther will be a final overall exam, again with 8 multiple choice questions (three possible alternatives) and 6 open-ended questions (again each worth a maximum of 4 points).

All written tests last 90 minutes.

 

Teaching tools

Teaching materials in the teachnig space of the course

Office hours

See the website of Gianfranco Baldini