74783 - Citzens, Elections, Parties

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on the analysis of political behaviours and their effects on the process of representation, also in comparative perspective. It does so by paying attention to eelections and the main actors of modern democracies, that is citizns and political parties. By the end of classes students: - know the basic terms of the political science debate on the functions of parties, electoral behaviour, electoral campaigns in contemporary democracies; - know the developments and current configurations of the main democratic political systems; - is able to plan and realise simple empirical research works on political parties, elctoral campaigns, political participation.

Course contents

In the first classes the basic concepts of organizational models of political parties, their developments, their current crisis of legitimization are introduced. Then, attention will be focused on electoral campaigns and their evolution in Italy and in comparative perspective, and on the possibilities opened up by the diffusion of the new media. At the same time, students will be required to carry out a field research aimed to understand the transformations of political parties, their organization and communication tools at local level. For that purpose, students will draft a questionnaire under the supervision of the lecturer, and then use it to interview local party representatives. On the basis of these interviews students will write a research report describing the main results of the work and discuss it in class.

Readings/Bibliography

For students recognized as “frequentanti” a detailed syllabus will be circulated at the beginning of classes.

 

For students not recognized as "frequentanti" the exam will be based on the following texts:

 

Written exam on the following texts:

- O. Massari “I partiti politici nelle democrazie contemporanee” Laterza, 2004.

- L. LeDuc, R. Niemi e P. Norris (a cura di) “Comparing democracies 3” Sage, 2010, capp. from 2 to 8.

- P. Ballini “Le 'regole del gioco': dai banchetti elettorali alle campagne disciplinate”, in P.L. Ballini e M. Ridolfi (eds), 'Storia delle campagne elettorali in Italia', Bruno Mondadori 2002.

- G. Gardini “Libertà vs eguaglianza: la difficile regolamentazione della campagna elettorale”, in C. Fusaro e R. D'Alimonte (eds), “Legislazione elettorale in Italia”, Il Mulino 2008.

 

Oral Exam on a book chosen between the following ones:

- G. Pasquino (ed), “Strumenti della democrazia”, Il Mulino 2007.

- L. Mosca e C. Vaccari (eds), “Nuovi media, nuova politica? Partecipazione e mobilitazione online da MoveOn al Movimento 5 stelle”, Franco Angeli 2011.

- P.G. Corbetta ed E. Gualmini (eds), “Il partito di Grillo”, Il Mulino 2013.

Teaching methods

Classes will be based both on traditional lectures and seminars. An active participation of students to class activities is required, as well as a constant presence. For that purpose, signatures will be collected in class from time to time. In order to be recognized as “frequentanti” students must be present at not less than 75% of classes, take the mid-term exams, and actively participate to the reseach work.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated on the basis of: one written mid-term exam (50%); active participation to class discussion (10%); the research report on party organization and communication at local level (40%). For students who are not recognized as “frequentanti”, the evaluation will be based on a written and an oral exam.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector, PC

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Tronconi