39410 - Political Communication (1)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the conceptual and research tools relating to the role played by political communication both during electoral moments and in the ongoing relationship between institutions and citizens. Specifically, it offers competences on the methods and techniques of electoral campaigns, on the one hand, and on the methods and techniques to increase citizen participation, on the other.

Course contents

The course is dedicated to contemporary forms of political communication in today's Western democracies.

After examining the concept and phenomenon of political communication in general, the first part analyses the process of mediatisation and self-mediatisation of politics and its effects on political actors (particularly leaders and parties), on the way politics is communicated, represented, and narrated, and, therefore, on the more general functioning of democracy.

The second part of the course analyses examples of electoral and government campaigns, through the prism of leadership and to highlight the phenomenon of mediatisation 'in action'.

Readings/Bibliography

*Mazzoleni, G. (2021). La comunicazione politica ieri e oggi. In G. Mazzoleni (ed.), Introduzione alla comunicazione politica, Bologna: Il Mulino, p. 21-38.

 

*Kriesi et. al. (2013). Democracy in the Age of Globalization and Mediatization. Palgrave Macmillan UK: Introduction/Part I, ch. 2/Part II, chs. 7, 8 e 9.


*Ventura, S. (2019). I leader e le loro storie. Narrazione, comunicazione politica e crisi della democrazia. Bologna: Il Mulino: Part One (and any 'cases' from the second part indicated by the teacher during the lesson).

*Diamanti G. e YouTrend (eds), Il candidato vincente. Le campagne elettorali che hanno cambiato il mondo, MIlano: UTET

 

Non-attending students must also prepare the whole of the second part and the conclusions of Ventura, S. (2019). I leder e le loro storie

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons and discussions, on the topics covered and on the video material proposed by the teacher and analysed in class.

Assessment methods

Written exam. Attending students will have two hours to answer four questions on the topics discussed in class and explored in the texts.

Non-attending students will likewise have two hours to answer four questions on the contents of the texts.

Teaching tools

Power Point, video projector and other audiovisual tools.

Office hours

See the website of Sofia Ventura