93415 - Italian Political System (50)

Learning outcomes

The course provides students with substantial knowledge of actors, structures and processes that feature the Italian political system, its historical origins and subsequent evolution. By the end of the course students will be familiar with the main dynamics and phenomena of Italian politics (especially those concerning the interactions between political actors, institutions and constituencies). Students are also expected to master the principal scientific tools that enable them to develop their own informed views about the crucial issues of contemporary political debates in Italy.

Course contents

The course is taught in presence. The number of students allowed in class is determined on the basis of class capacity and by the health and safety provisions that deal with the pandemic emergency. In case more students want to attend classes in presence than permitted by the rules, a system of shifts will be organized so to allow students to participate. Regardless of the health-related conditions and the specific organization of the course, students will be able to follow the lessons of the entire course remotely on MS TEAMS.

The course focuses on the following topics: the political system and the contemporary approaches to its study; the historical dimension, democratization and regional cleavages; political parties, party systems and electoral regimes; political culture and behaviour; the institutional setting and the decision-making processes of the central government (the president of the Republic, the legislative and executive branches); regional and local governments; justice and politics; the 2018 parliamentary elections and their recent developments.

Readings/Bibliography

M. Cotta and L. Verzichelli, Il sistema politico italiano, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020, fourth edition.

* Istituto Carlo Cattaneo, Il vicolo cieco, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018 (Introduction, chapters 2, 4, 5).

* Moschella M. e Rhodes M. (a cura di), Politica in Italia. I fatti dell’anno e le interpretazioni. Edizione 2020, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020 (Introduction, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

Please note that (*) books are available on www.sba.unibo.it.

Teaching methods

Lectures. Links to institutional websites. Readings and collective discussion of short texts (newspapers articles and academic articles).

Assessment methods

Attending students:

First written exam (open-ended questions): 40%.

Second written exam (open-ended questions): 40%.

Oral exam focused  on Moschella and Rhodes: 20%.

Non attending students:

Oral exam on the whole programme

Teaching tools

Slides

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Pederzoli