Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge and skills to understand and critically analyze the impact of the digital revolution on political actors and institutions, in particular with regard to their communication practices and tools. After a brief general introduction to the topic, the course will focus on the changes introduced by technological innovations, and on the discussion of the challenges and opportunities of digitization for political actors and institutions. Thematic focuses on topics of particular scientific and public relevance in will also be presented. Discussion activities will be provided, in order to allow students to independently and consciously apply the theories, concepts and interpretative paradigms encountered during the lessons, as well as to prepare for the exam.

Main topics addressed:

1. The evolution of political communication and election campaigns in the digital age
2. The digital revolution and political parties
3. The challenge of big data
4. Public communication facing digitalization: e-democracy, e-government, social media, open data
5. Pandemic, data and surveillance

The course aims at providing students with:

• A good knowledge of the scientific debate on the impact of digital technology on public and political communication;
• The skills necessary to discuss the issues addressed during the course in an autonomous, aware and in-depth manner;
• The ability to critically and independently discuss the contents, themes and theoretical paradigms discussed during the course;
• The ability to use the notions learned to consciously interpret the social and political changes analyzed;
• The ability to use specialized vocabulary.

Main topics addressed:

1. The evolution of political communication and election campaigns in the digital age
2. The digital revolution and political parties
3. The challenge of big data
4. Public communication facing digitalization: e-democracy, e-government, social media, open data
5. Pandemic, data and surveillance

Lectures and laboratory activities. Students are required to participate in class activities aimed at the critical discussion of the concepts presented during the lessons.

The exam consists of three open questions to be completed in one hour and a half, plus an optional oral exam. For Erasmus students, it is possible to take the exam in English and French.

Support activities can be activated at the request of the students.

The program is based on the following texts. The material is the same for all students.

• Mazzoleni, G. (a cura di) (2021) Introduzione alla comunicazione politica, Bologna, Il
  Mulino (chapter 1, 2, 7, 9, 14, 15).
• Raniolo, F. e Tarditi, V. (2021) La rivoluzione digitale e le trasformazioni organizzative dei partiti, in “Rivista di Digital Politics”, scaricabile in open access a questo link.
• Open data per l’e-democracy (2022) in “Rivista italiana di informatica e diritto”, scaricabile in open access a questo link.
• Montagnani, E. (2021) La comunicazione pubblica on-line e la digitalizzazione delle Pubbliche amministrazioni tra pandemia e infodemia: quali prospettive future?, in “Rivista italiana di informatica e diritto”, scaricabile in open access a questo link.
• Lyon, D. (2022) Gli occhi del virus. Pandemia e sorveglianza, Roma, Luiss University Press.

Further materials may be recommended during the course.