The course aims to provide the key concepts of political science, starting from the problem of the definition of matter itself, both in its historical manifestations, and above all because of the theoretical elements that constitute it. In this sense, the main methodological institutes of political science will be analyzed, the themes and research prospects that are at the heart of contemporary politics will be deepened: from parties to pressure groups, from electoral systems to the problems of political representation to the functioning of parliaments; from the transformations of democracy to the new challenges brought to it by populist movements and parties, from totalitarianism to the interactions between economy and politics in the logic of globalization. In addition, the course will face a monographic study of the main issues (historical, political, theoretical) related to the theme of "populism".
In this sense, the educational objectives that the course pursues are:
1. Knowledge and understanding skills;
2. Knowledge and understanding skills applied;
3. Autonomy of judgment;
4. Communication skills;
5. Ability to learn
In the context of the main political and historical-political issues.