The course provides students with the analytical, conceptual and methodological tools for analyzing and comprehending political change from the XXth century up till today, with particular reference to changes in the political cultures of complex societies and the efffects of globalization on political processes and on the democratic fibre of the nations. . Through the analysis of political sociology's main authors, theories and concepts students will acquire the necessary knowledge and competence for interpreting -and professionally operating in - complex globalized socio-political systems. The acquired baggage of knowledge and experties will enable students to comprehend the dynamics, power relations, structural and superstructural variables that operate in the political context they will deal and work with in the future.

1. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. At the end of the course students will be able to:
- read and summarize scientific texts that analyze the concept of political culture and its multiple fields (leadership styles, political organizations, political communication, political participation, etc.)
- describe the main theoretical concepts and research methodologies attributable to the national and international panorama of studies on political cultures;
- identify the main authors who contributed to the definition of the concept of political culture and its evolution.

2. APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. At the end of the course students will be able to:
- collocate authors and theories relating to the concept of political culture in a line of temporal evolution;
- summarize the main theoretical-scientific aspects related to the studies on political cultures;
- define its limits and identify the critical issues of the concept of political culture.

3. MAKING JUDGMENTS. At the end of the course students will be able to:
- describe in socio-political terms the characteristics of the political system and its complex interactions with the social system.
- identify and use socio-political variables in the evaluation of a complex political and social scenario;
- understand the multiple dimensions that intervene in the relations between the political system and the social system.

4. COMMUNICATION SKILLS. At the end of the course students will be able to:
- use the scientific lexicon of political sociology in an advanced way in oral exposure and writing;
- discuss in public concepts, theories and criticisms relating to studies on political cultures;
- work in a group, sharing and exchanging the knowledge acquired in the field of political sociology.

5. LEARNING SKILLS. At the end of the course students will be able to:
- find and deepen independently the new scientific orientations and the new contributions offered to the study and analysis of the relationship between the social system and the political system.
- recover and deepen acquired socio-political knowledge during the course of their scientific maturation process and along their professional path.