Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

The course aims to introduce students to the basic concepts of political science. It provides the tools necessary to the understanding of fundamental mechanisms of contemporary political systems in the light of the growing digitization of societies.

Case studies, combined with theoretical definitions of concepts and issues, allow students to gain the knowledge needed to interpret the major changes that cross the field of political science in contemporary democracy and in Italy especially.

More generally, te  teaching prepares students for the two years to, by acquiring theoretical and empirical knowledge - as well as argumentative skills and independent judgment - in the field of political science.

The course aims to provide students with:

- a good knowledge of the scientific debate on the changes involving the political science field

- skills needed to discuss, in depth and consciously, the issues addressed in class

- ability to discuss, critically and with independent judgment, the main interpretations concerning the functioning of contemporary democracies

- correct use of specific language 

Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the course will be delivered remotely through synchronous lessons and small group discussions.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the exams will take place remotely. If the general situation allows organizing face-to-face meetings, the possibility of taking the exam remotely will still be guaranteed for the entire academic year.

The written test takes place on the Moodle platform and in Webex video connection, has a total duration of 50 minutes and is composed as follows:

- 4 open questions of 20 lines in length (correct answer max 5 points, wrong answer/missing: 0 points);

- 24 multiple choice questions (correct answer +0.5, missing / incorrect answer -0.125). 

FOR ALL, confirmation and registration of the written mark takes place during the immediately following oral exam, after discussion of the exam itself. In the event of a clear discrepancy between the result and the candidate's level of preparation, the teacher has the option of not recording the grade.

Students could increase (or decrease) the written exam mark with an optional oral accessible to those who have passed the written test with at least 24/30.

ATTENDING students: Open questions are designed to test the knowledge and skills acquired, while the close answers mainly to test specific language. They will both be based on slides and texts discussed in class.

NOT ATTENDING students: Open questions are designed to test the knowledge and skills acquired, while the close answers mainly to test specific language. They will both be based on the texts indicated above.

If NON-ATTENDING students have difficulty to find the texts for reasons related to the emergency, they can contact the teacher to exceptionally prepare the exam on ATTENDING materials.

Each candidate must be connected to the active camera so that he could ascertain his identity and that he is not making use of prohibited supports.

Support activities can be possibly activated when specifically requested by students

The course is devoted to the discussion and definition of the basic concepts of political science. It will pay particular attention to changes that are characterizing digital societies. Features of democratic regimes, the functioning of democratic mechanisms and actors who work in them will be analyzed in the light of the changes introduced by digital technologies.

Starting from the analysis of concrete and actual examples (the Brexit referendum, the Italicum reform, Obama's and Grillo's political experience, among others), the course will cover the following topics:

DEMOCRACY

1. Democracy: definition and evolution

2. E-democracy

3. Is democracy in crisis?

THE ACTORS OF POLITICS

4. What politics is and how to study it

5. Political participation and movements

6. From Elites parties to Pirate parties

INSTITUTIONS, ELECTIONS AND PUBLIC OPINION

7. Functions and structures of parliaments and governments

8. Elections and electoral systems

9. Election campaigns and public opinion

ATTENDING STUDENTS

At the beginning of each week attending students will receive references to articles and books, as well as links to examine in depth the topic discussed in class. These materials as well as the slides of the lectures will be available in the "Materiale didattico" section.

NON ATTENDING STUDENTS

- Cotta M., della Porta D., Morlino L., Fondamenti di scienza politica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2004.

- Dahl, R., Sulla democrazia, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010, capp. 1-11,

- Corbetta, P., La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015, capp 1 e 2 vol I e cap 2 vol. III